PREVIEW: WorldSBK heads to modern classic Most as history continues to be re-written
WorldSBK heads from Hungary to Czechia and the incredible Autodrom Most for Round 5 of the season as the action comes thick and fast
There’s no rest for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock throughout May with the action relentless. From Hungary, it’s time to head to the Czech Round at the Autodrom Most, a venue that challenges riders and machines alike thanks to its unique layout. High speed corners mixed with heavy braking zones mean it is difficult to get right, so the big question is: who will make the most of Most?
BULEGA’S HISTORIC RUN: Can he extend his winning streak again?
16 wins and 25 podiums in a row, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has been unstoppable since the backend of last season, and now he heads to a track where he claimed a sensational victory last year against Toprak Razgatlioglu on a drag race to the line – Most, of course, had been Toprak territory. He heads into the Czech Round as the favourite, but teammate Iker Lecuona has been getting closer to the #11 and, while nine consecutive podiums have shown incredible consistency, the #7 will be eager to get that first WorldSBK win. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had three rostrums here last year, albeit on the Panigale V4R, and has the most podiums at the Czech venue of the active riders. He’ll be aiming for a first visit to the WorldSBK rostrum with BMW, although he’ll need to be declared fit on Thursday after he missed Race 2 at Balaton Park due to a hip contusion. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) has won two races at the Autodrom Most in the past and, aside from Race 2 in Hungary, has a good run of top five finishes. Will we see the #19 at the sharp end once again?
IN THE HUNT: Heading to Czechia in good form
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) heads into Most after a P6 finish in Race 2 at Balaton Park, but Hungary was a case of ‘if it could go wrong, it did go wrong’ for the #14. He’ll be aiming for more in Czechia, although he’s yet to stand on the podium at Most. His best finish is two P4 finishes last year. Both Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) returned to the podium in Hungary and will be looking to repeat that success this weekend, while Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) impressed last time out with three top eight finishes, including a best of P6. The #67 will be keen to prove that Hungary was no flash in the pan as he continues adapting to the Panigale V4R. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) returned to the top five for the first time in 18 months at Balaton Park, and Most is a circuit he’s been decent at in the past.
BACK IN CONTENTION? Hoping for more at Most
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) appears to be getting back to his best on the Yamaha R1, taking Yamaha’s best result at Balaton Park with P7 in Race 1. Most has traditionally been an excellent circuit for ‘Loka’. In his 15 races at the Czech circuit, he’s claimed two podiums and in every race, he’s finished (13 out of 15), he’s been in the top nine. Teammate Xavi Vierge will want to put himself back in front in blue after Hungary was more challenging for the #97. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) claimed a top six finish in Race 1 at Balaton Park and will want to be a bit closer to the front after such a strong start to the season. The #22 was on the podium at Most in 2024 on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR. For teammate Axel Bassani, an incredible start to 2026 has made way for trickier times, having not finished in the top ten since Race 2 at Portimao. ‘El Bocia’ has plenty of top five finishes at Most and he’ll be hoping for a return to that form.
TOP TENS ON THE CARDS: Plenty of riders aiming high
Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) had a strong visit to Hungary, and perhaps should’ve left Balaton Park with three top ten finishes; only missing out in Race 1 when he got bundled down the order into 12th. Most in WorldSBK hasn’t been kind to ‘Taz’, with only one finish, in 21st place, last year but he claimed a sensational WorldSSP victory in 2023 in mixed conditions. Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took a first top ten finish in Race 2 in Hungary and will want to continue that form, while teammate Remy Gardner secured a first single-digit result of the year with P9 in the same race. Can the duo repeat that at Most? Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) and Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) face their first visit to Most while Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) scored a point in Czechia last year, with P15 in Race 1.
GRID CHANGES: Oliveira misses out, Dixon still recovering
There will be a couple of changes to the grid for the Czech Round. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) picked up a fractured scapula and rib, a left shoulder tendon injury and a concussion after the Tissot Superpole Race crash at Balaton Park, and he will be replaced by Michael van der Mark; the former race rider turned test rider for BMW. At Honda HRC, Jake Dixon continues to recover from the wrist fracture sustained in the Official Test in Australia, and he will be replaced by Yuki Kunii after he made his debut at Balaton Park.
Catch up on the Hungary highlights show HERE, read the Official Programme for Most HERE and don’t miss a moment from Balaton Park using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 30% off!
