David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) almost trebled his FIM Sportbike World Championship standings lead at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” with a P4 finish in Race 1 and victory in Race 2. The Spanish rider’s consistency has been key to his 2026 campaign so far, with seven podiums from ten races. His first finish when taking the chequered flag is fourth, something he scored during the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round, helping him to a 34-point lead after Round 5.
Salvador started his weekend with pole position, denying wildcard Filippo Bianchi (Team MMP Velocita) a dream start to his WorldSPB career, by setting a 1’42.280s. The #38’s time was two tenths quicker than Bianchi’s as he took his third pole out of five in 2026. In Race 1, Salvador led at the start of the final lap, but he was unable to hold it across the last 4.226km. He was passed by Bruno Ieraci (CM Triumph Factory Racing) at Turn 8, as well as Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse).
Thompson had a huge moment on the exit of Turn 10, which allowed Ieraci to break away, while others rolled off to avoid the #50. Bianchi was able to take enough momentum around the outside of Turn 11 to climb into second, while Salvador had dropped to seventh. At Turn 13, several riders went wide, and the #38 fought back to P5 across the line. However, a two-position drop for Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) for exceeding track limits on the final lap twice promoted Salvador back into fourth.
In Race 2, Salvador started from third thanks to his best lap time in Race 1, and he immediately leapt to the front of the field. However, WorldSPB has been unpredictable in nature this year, and Salvador found himself not leading laps, although he was in the top two across the start-finish straight on every lap. Like Race 1, it came down to the final lap, and Salvador nearly came to blows at Turn 8 with teammate Antonio Torres. Both were able to continue and Salvador remained in second, before passing Seabright for P1 through Turns 12 and 13. After hitting the lead, Salvador was able to defend through the final few corners for his second victory of the year.
Discussing his win, Salvador said: “The race was difficult. From the beginning, I tried to push to my pace, but the whole time, other bikes overtook me on the straight. It was the same situation throughout the whole year. All the time, I try to overtake them in the braking area because, at this point, I am stronger than them. Finally, I tried my best. The strategy was good. I overtook on the back straight on the final lap and then closed the other corners. I’m super happy because I took the win in my team’s home round.”
In terms of the Championship battle, Salvador headed into Misano 13 points clear of teammate Torres, but he leaves Italy, and heads to Magny-Cours in September, 34 points clear of the Spanish rider. Salvador’s consistency has helped him to that lead, while Torres could only match fifth and tenth at Misano. In terms of podiums, Salvador has taken seven while Torres has three to his name this season.
On the lead he has over Torres, Salvador added: “It was good for sure. The target is always the same. We’re preparing the best for the final three rounds, because they’ll be important. Misano is one of my best circuits of the year, so I’m enjoying the moment because I’m enjoying my bike. In August, I’m going to do a test at Magny-Cours, before the round. The circuit is a particular circuit, but I think it’s an enjoyable circuit with this bike. Now, I’m going to go to my summer break, watch the races, analyse all my worst areas to arrive at Magny-Cours stronger than today.”
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