talian Star Secures Triple Victory While Ducati Extends Championship Control at Misano

Nicolo Bulega delivered one of the most commanding performances of the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season by completing a remarkable hat-trick of victories at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Backed by a passionate crowd of 76,170 spectators, the Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider swept through the entire weekend unbeaten, claiming victory in the Superpole Race and Race 2 after already winning Saturday’s opening encounter. The result capped off a dream home event for both rider and manufacturer, with Ducati riders occupying all three podium positions in every WorldSBK race held throughout the weekend.

Bulega’s dominance was further underlined by a new lap record and another commanding display that strengthened his championship lead heading into the next round at Donington Park.

Superpole Race: Bulega Stays Untouchable Despite Lecuona Pressure

Ducati Factory Team Locks Out Top Two Positions

The ten-lap Superpole Race provided the first glimpse of what would become another dominant day for Ducati.

Starting from pole position, Bulega launched cleanly and immediately established control at the front. Although teammate Iker Lecuona remained within striking distance throughout the sprint contest, the Spaniard was unable to find a way past the championship leader.

As the race developed, Bulega steadily increased his advantage while maintaining exceptional pace around the 4.2-kilometre Misano circuit.

On Lap 4 he added another milestone to his weekend by setting a new lap record, further demonstrating the speed advantage he and Ducati enjoyed throughout the event.

By the chequered flag, Bulega had built a margin of more than one second over Lecuona, securing maximum points and another front-row start for Race 2.

Montella Continues Strong Season with Seventh Podium

Yari Montella once again impressed aboard the Barni Spark Racing Ducati.

The Italian made an aggressive start and quickly overtook Alex Lowes to move into podium contention. Once established in third place, Montella maintained a consistent pace and benefited from Lowes’ retirement due to a technical issue.

With no serious challenge behind him, Montella comfortably secured third position and celebrated his seventh podium finish of an increasingly impressive campaign.

The result further strengthened his position among the championship’s leading independent riders and delighted the large contingent of Italian supporters in attendance.

Penalty Drama Impacts Midfield Battle

One of the closest contests of the sprint race involved Alberto Surra and Axel Bassani.

The pair spent much of the race battling intensely for fourth place before Surra made a mistake at Turn 14. Bassani immediately capitalised and moved ahead.

Race officials later reviewed Surra’s re-entry to the circuit and judged it to be unsafe. He was instructed to relinquish a position but failed to do so before the finish.

As a consequence, Surra received a post-race Long Lap Penalty equivalent that dropped him down the classification, promoting Lorenzo Baldassarri and Miguel Oliveira ahead of him.

Andrea Locatelli completed a solid performance for Yamaha, remaining inside the points-paying positions throughout the race and successfully holding off Tarran Mackenzie in the closing laps.

Superpole Race Top Three

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati)
2. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) +1.133s
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +7.422s

Race 2: Bulega Completes Historic Hat-Trick

Ducati Rider Delivers Another Masterclass at Home

With confidence high after the Superpole Race victory, Bulega lined up on pole position for the weekend’s final WorldSBK contest.

The race initially appeared set to provide a much closer battle.

Lecuona attacked aggressively into the opening corners and briefly seized the lead from his teammate. The Spaniard’s determination to challenge was clear as the pair exchanged positions during the opening lap.

However, Bulega quickly regained control.

After reclaiming the lead at Turn 8, he began to establish the familiar pace advantage that had characterised his entire weekend.

A decisive moment arrived when Lecuona ran wide at Turn 12 while trying to maintain pressure on the championship leader.

From that point onward, Bulega steadily increased his advantage, setting another fastest lap and eventually crossing the finish line more than five seconds clear.

The victory completed a perfect weekend sweep and further enhanced his growing reputation as Ducati’s leading title contender.

Montella Capitalises as Bassani’s Podium Hopes End

Home Favourite Secures Another Ducati Podium

The battle for third place proved one of the most entertaining contests of the race.

Axel Bassani spent much of the 21-lap encounter holding the final podium position aboard the bimota KB998. However, Yari Montella remained glued to his rear wheel throughout the race.

The pressure finally told on Lap 17.

Bassani made an error at Turn 8 and slid off the racing line, immediately surrendering third position.

Montella seized the opportunity and never looked back, securing another podium finish and completing yet another all-Ducati top three.

The result continued an exceptional weekend for the Italian manufacturer and highlighted Montella’s growing consistency in 2026.

Alex Lowes Charges Through the Field

Strong Recovery Secures Top-Four Finish

Starting from tenth on the grid, Alex Lowes produced one of the standout rides of the afternoon.

The British rider wasted little time moving forward and had already climbed into fifth position by the third lap.

Maintaining strong race pace throughout, Lowes eventually inherited fourth place following Bassani’s mistake and comfortably held the position until the finish.

Behind him, Tarran Mackenzie delivered another encouraging result in fifth place for MGM Optical Express Racing.

Alberto Surra completed the top six after another competitive performance.

Several Riders Hit Trouble in Difficult Conditions

The hot Misano conditions proved challenging throughout the weekend.

Several riders suffered incidents during the early stages of Race 2.

Alvaro Bautista crashed out before mounting a challenge for the podium, while Bahattin Sofuoglu also failed to reach the finish.

Miguel Oliveira’s hopes of another strong result ended due to a technical problem, forcing the BMW rider to retire after an otherwise encouraging return from injury.

Championship Picture: Bulega Tightens His Grip

Ducati Closing In On Manufacturers’ Crown

The Misano weekend significantly strengthened Bulega’s position at the top of the standings.

Following another dominant performance, he now holds a commanding 121-point lead over teammate Iker Lecuona.

The result also marked the eighteenth consecutive one-two finish for the Ducati factory operation, underlining the extraordinary consistency of the team throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Yari Montella has reclaimed third place in the riders’ standings and now holds a 14-point advantage over Alex Lowes.

In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Ducati’s dominance continues to grow.

The Italian manufacturer now leads Bimota by 242 points and could mathematically secure the championship at the next round.

Arenas Strengthens WorldSSP Title Challenge with Controlled Victory

Spanish Rookie Extends Championship Lead at Misano

The FIM Supersport World Championship saw Albert Arenas produce another mature performance to secure his third victory of the season.

Starting from the front row, the AS BLU CRU Yamaha rider immediately moved into the lead and controlled the race from start to finish.

Although teammate Aldi Mahendra briefly threatened during the opening laps, a mistake at Turn 12 allowed Arenas to establish a comfortable advantage.

From there, the Spaniard managed the race expertly, crossing the finish line almost two seconds clear of the field.

Tom Booth-Amos secured another podium finish in second place, while Mahendra recovered to claim third and complete a double Yamaha podium.

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

1. Albert Arenas
2. Tom Booth-Amos +1.976s
3. Aldi Mahendra +3.160s
4. Jaume Masia +5.167s
5. Jeremy Alcoba +8.513s
6. Mattia Casadei +8.559s

Arenas now holds a 56-point championship lead over Valentin Debise heading into the next round.

Salvador Wins Thrilling World Sportbike Finale

Kawasaki Rider Extends Championship Advantage Before Summer Break

The World Sportbike category delivered one of the closest finishes of the weekend as David Salvador claimed victory after a dramatic final-lap battle.

The Team ProDina Kawasaki rider spent the entire race at the front of the field, carefully managing his position before making his decisive move during the closing stages.

On the final lap, Salvador overtook Fenton Seabright and immediately defended his position through the final corners.

The strategy worked perfectly as he crossed the line just 0.039 seconds ahead of Carter Thompson.

Filippo Bianchi continued to impress on only his second appearance at World Championship level, climbing from the fourth row to finish fifth.

World Sportbike Race 2 Results

1. David Salvador
2. Carter Thompson +0.039s
3. Fenton Seabright +0.148s
4. Antonio Torres +0.772s
5. Filippo Bianchi +0.942s
6. Xavi Artigas +1.055s

The victory extends Salvador’s championship lead to 27 points as the series heads into its summer break.

Misano Belongs to Ducati

The 2026 Emilia-Romagna Round will be remembered as one of Ducati’s most successful home weekends in recent WorldSBK history.

Nicolo Bulega delivered a flawless hat-trick of victories, Ducati swept every WorldSBK podium position across the weekend, and the manufacturer moved within touching distance of another constructors’ title.

With Donington Park next on the calendar, momentum is firmly with Bulega and Ducati. If the Italian’s performance at Misano is any indication, the championship battle may already be entering decisive territory.