Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) claimed P1 by more than two tenths in Free Practice 1 in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia is hosting all the action of the Pirelli Spanish Round, with Bulega leading Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and teammate Iker Lecuona in the first session of the final round of 2026.
Bulega will be aiming to end his last weekend in WorldSBK with another treble, and he started the action at Jerez by claiming P1 in Free Practice 1. He set a 1’38.155s, coming in an ultra-consistent opening stint where he was faster than anyone else on all but three laps in his 10-lap run. He was 0.252s clear of Sam Lowes, with the #14 looking to get back on form after a tricky Estoril. He posted a 1’38.407s to finish in second, ahead of Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati). The #7 was around a tenth back from the Brit as he posted a 1’38.489s.
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will be aiming to secure third in the standings in Race 1, and he finished FP1 in fourth place with a fastest time of a 1’38.521s, 0.366s slower than Bulega. Rookie Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) was fifth with a late lap as the #67 aims to keep up his strong form after taking three podiums at Estoril. He finished with a 1’38.597s. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) claimed sixth place and is the only rider who can usurp Montella in the battle for bronze, although he sits 53 points behind the #5. The Bimota rider set a 1’38.625s to take P6 in the morning session.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven), fresh from his contract renewal with GoEleven Ducati, was seventh as he lapped just over half-a-second slower than Bulega. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) ensured both Bimotas were in the top eight with a 1’38.580s while Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) rounded out the top ten.
The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1’38.155s
- Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.252s
- Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.334s
- Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.366s
- Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +0.442s
- Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.470s
Watch every moment from WorldSBK FP2 at 15:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €4.99!