2026 Champion Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) returned to winning ways in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with a commanding Race 1 victory at the Circuito Estoril, fighting back after dropping to third in the early stages of the race to beat teammate Iker Lecuona. There were more celebrations for Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) as he secured his second WorldSBK podium in three races after a successful first race day at the Tissot Estoril Round.

BULEGA BATTLES BACK AS SURRA TAKES A PODIUM

Bulega initially got away well at the start but Lecuona outbraked his teammate at Turn 1, and, with Bulega trying to gain position around the outside, Alex Lowes was able to come through to demote the 2026 Champion into third place. At the start of Lap 2, Bulega was back into second after getting ahead of Alex Lowes, while the #22 was soon demoted to fourth when Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) got ahead of the Bimota rider. A lap later and Bulega was in the lead of the race, once again making his move at Turn 1 to re-take the lead. He quickly extended his lead with a new race lap record, a 1’34.964s, as he went in search of his 27^th victory of the season. ‘Bulegas’ did continue to build his lead as he made it a record-equalling 27^th win this season, tying with Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) after his 2023 campaign. Lecuona claimed his 29^th WorldSBK podium, putting him level with John Kocinski. Surra kept his cool when running in third, especially when Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) got within a second of the #67, but as the second half of the race started, Surra had a gap of 1.6 seconds over the home hero. It’s the Italian’s second WorldSBK rostrum, and his first in a feature-length race.

OLIVEIRA BACK ON FORM

Oliveira was running in fourth after initially dropping down the order at the start, before fighting his way back into P4. In the final few laps, he held a margin of over a second over Alex Lowes as he looked to hold on to fourth. Across the final five laps, the #88 was able to maintain the gap to the chasing Bimota for his first top-five finish since he was on the podium in Hungary in Race 1. The Brit finished in fifth ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven), who fought up to P6 despite, on Lap 6, being clattered from behind by Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team); both riders stayed on their machine.

BASSANI RESISTS MONTELLA’S CHALLENGE

Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished seventh after resisting a late charge from Montella, who finished just 0.033s behind the #47 when they crossed the finish line. Montella’s incident with ‘Balda’ was investigated by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards with no action taken, while Montella dropped down the order after the collision. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed ninth ahead of Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team), with the #31 rounding out the top ten.

JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finished in 11^th place after being passed by Gerloff at Turn 1 in the latter stages, with the #14 immediately looking behind after the Texan got ahead. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) was 12^th despite starting from seventh. The #96 dropped down the order at the start of the race and was unable to recover into the top ten. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) finished in 13^th ahead of Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team).

MISSING OUT ON POINTS

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) missed out on points by just 0.462s as he finished in 16^th place, while he was almost two seasons clear of Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates). Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 18^th despite running wide at Turn 1 in the early stages, finishing ahead of Loris Baz (MGM Optical Express Racing), Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and his teammate, Twan Smits.

LATE CRASH FOR MANZI

On the penultimate lap of the race, Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crashed out at Turn 9 from the points-paying positions. He did re-join the race and took the chequered flag in 22^nd and last place.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 1, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)
2. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 3.870s
3. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +9.668s
4. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +11.444s
5. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +12.749s
6. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +17.850s
   Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) - 1'34.964s, new lap record

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