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The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads to Hungary and the Balaton Park Circuit for the second time after last season’s milestone trip. The Motul Hungarian Round is set to be another thrilling affair, with surprises possible, but one rider has his sights set on a place in the history books in Round 4 of the 2026 season.

UNSTOPPABLE SO FAR: Can Bulega break the winning streak record?

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has won 13 consecutive races, stretching back to the end of last season, which is a joint record with Toprak Razgatlioglu who recorded it twice. One more win will mean the #11 has the outright record. He is also currently on a streak of 22 podiums, and three more will put him level with the all-time record of 25, held by Razgatlioglu and Colin Edwards. However, the last time ‘Bulegas’ didn’t record a WorldSBK rostrum finish was at this circuit in 2025, when he finished out of the points in the Tissot Superpole Race after a wrong tyre choice. Two wins for Bulega will put him on 11 to start the season, equalling the start Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) made in 2019. The Championship leader made amends for his 2025 Assen woes this year… can he do the same in Hungary?

HIS NEAREST CHALLENGERS: Lecuona, Sam Lowes…

At Assen, Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) led a WorldSBK race for the first time and took the fight to his teammate after mid-race rain and is generally getting closer as he adapts to the Ducati. He didn’t race at Balaton Park last year, aside from Turn 1, after being caught up in the Turn 2 pile-up in Race 1. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was just behind the factory duo at Assen and will look to continue that at a circuit he took two rostrums at last season. Bautista also had two podiums at Balaton Park in 2025 and heads into the weekend on the back of three P4 finishes. Can the two-time Champion get back on the podium in Hungary? Balaton Park is a circuit with heavy braking zones, so perhaps expect to see the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team duo of Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira closer to the front, while both Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and teammate Axel Bassani will aim for a return to the podium as well.

STEPS FORWARD FOR LOCATELLI? The #55 aiming to be closer to the front again

After a difficult opening two rounds, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was considerably closer to teammate Xavi Vierge at Assen, with ‘Loka’ ahead in Race 1 and Vierge ahead in Sunday’s races. The #55 will aim to continue that progression after revealing that he hopes Yamaha have solved the problem and that he had his feeling with the Yamaha R1 back. Vierge will be looking to continue as he’s started with Yamaha at Balaton Park. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) would’ve wanted more from Assen and will look to repeat his top-ten from the Assen Superpole Race. Rookie teammate Stefano Manzi was a double winner at Balaton Park last season in WorldSSP and the #62 will look to break into the top ten for the first time in WorldSBK. For Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and teammate Mattia Rato, points will be the goal.

IN CONTENTION? Montella, Baldassarri and more aiming high…

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) has been one of the surprises of 2026 so far, although his raw pace has often been undone by crashes. That wasn’t the case in the Netherlands as he finished P5 in Race 2 and built throughout the weekend. The #5 will need to put it all together but don’t be surprised to see him in the podium fight. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) will also look to move up the order at Balaton Park, having been in the top six at Assen but had a pace drop off. He was a podium finisher here in MotoE last season. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) had enjoyed a strong start to the season, but Assen was a big disappointment, scoring no points. He was in the top ten at Balaton Park last year in Race 1 before being ruled out through injury, and with the progress he’s made this season on the revised ZX-10RR, Gerloff will be hoping he can be even higher. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) had a strong result at Balaton Park last season in his first appearance with his current team, taking advantage of mixed conditions to take P8 in the Superpole Race, and will look to repeat that this year. For Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) and Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates), it’ll be their first time racing at Balaton Park.

RIDER LINE-UP NEWS: Kunii replaces Dixon, Chantra subject to medical check

Honda HRC will be without Jake Dixon for Round 4 of the season as he continues to recover from his fractured wrist that he sustained in Australia. In his place will be debutant Yuki Kunii, with the Japanese rider knowing the Hungarian circuit from his 2025 Moto2 campaign, although he crashed out of the race at Turn 1. Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) hopes to race at Balaton Park but will be subject to a pre-round medical check on Thursday after he was declared unfit following his heavy Free Practice 3 crash at Assen.

Catch up on the Assen highlights show HERE, read the Official Programme for Hungary HERE and don’t miss a moment from Balaton Park using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 30% off!