Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has won back-to-back MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship races for the first time after resisting teammate Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) in the 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race. ‘Bulegas’ will still have the chance to be crowned 2026 Champion in Sunday’s Race 2, while there were more celebrations in the form of Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) who claimed his first World Superbike podium.

LECUONA WINS, SURRA PODIUMS

Like in Race 1, Lecuona got the holeshot heading into Turn 1 ahead of teammate Bulega while Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) held onto third. The gap between the two factory Ducati riders was closer than on Saturday with the #7 using the SCX tyre while Bulega opted to use the SCQ tyre. On Lap 3, Bulega made the move under braking at Turn 11, but Lecuona responded immediately at Turn 13 to re-take P1. That was the only move ‘Bulegas’ made as he fell half-a-second back from his teammate, with Lecuona winning two races in a single round for the first time in his career. Bulega’s P2 means he can win the title in Race 2 if he finishes in the top five. The fight for the podium went to the wire between Surra and Montella, with the #5, using the SCX tyre, making a move on Lap 8 at Turn 11, but Surra on the SCQ responded at Turns 12 and 13 as he searched for a first podium. Surra was able to resist further attacks as he claimed his first WorldSBK rostrum.

CELEBRATIONS FOR BARNI DUCATI

Montella finished just three tenths back from Surra as he settled for fourth, giving him a second row start for Race 2. Montella’s points mean the Barni Spark Racing Team have won the 2026 Independent Teams’ battle. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) had been chasing Surra and Montella but just didn’t have the pace to make an attack, eventually finishing fifth. He’ll line up alongside twin brother Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), who finished just over a second behind the #14.

COMEBACKS FOR A THIRD ROW START

Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) climbed from 10^th to seventh as he secured a third-row start for this afternoon’s Race 2, finishing ahead of Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who was eighth. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) pulled off another remarkable comeback as he climbed from 17^th to finish in the top nine and give him a third-row start for Race 2.

DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE EARLY STAGES

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) and Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) would’ve had hopes of finishing in the top nine, but they crashed at Turn 7 when ‘Balda’ attempted to get up the inside of Gerloff. The incident will be investigated by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) also would have hoped to be in the top nine, but he crashed at Turn 6 on Lap 2.

The top nine from the WorldSBK Superpole Race, full results here:

1. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +2.005s
3. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +5.314s
4. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +5.550s
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +6.540s
6. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +7.772s
7. Tommy Bridewell (Superbikes Advocates) +9.386s
8. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +11.197s
9. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) +13.294s
   Fastest Lap – Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) – 1’27.783s, new lap record

Watch Race 2 from 15:30 Local Time (UTC+2) to find out whether Bulega is crowned Champion using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!