Threatening skies and changing grip levels added another layer of drama to Saturday at the TT Circuit Assen, but the result at the front remained familiar. Nicolo Bulega continued his flawless start to the 2026 WorldSBK season by claiming a seventh consecutive victory, although this was far from the routine success the final classification might suggest.
For much of the race, Bulega looked in command. Then the weather turned, the pace changed, and Iker Lecuona suddenly emerged as a genuine threat. What had appeared to be another controlled Ducati victory quickly became a tense contest that was only decided in the closing laps.
With rain arriving mid-race and several battles raging throughout the field, Assen once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most demanding and entertaining circuits on the calendar.
Race 1 Highlights
Pole position did not guarantee Bulega the holeshot. Instead, it was Aruba.it Racing Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona who launched best and led the field through the opening sequence of corners.
Bulega wasted little time responding. By Lap 2 he had moved into first place and immediately began dictating the tempo. Lap after lap he managed the gap, controlled the front tyre, and looked set to disappear at the front once again.
That changed when rain began to fall over sections of the 4.542km Assen circuit.
As grip levels dropped and riders reassessed braking points and corner entry speeds, Lecuona sensed an opening. The Spaniard attacked decisively, closed the gap, and briefly took the lead as conditions became at their most uncertain. It was the first time all season that Bulega had looked truly vulnerable in a race situation.
However, as the surface began to improve in the final stages, Bulega responded like a championship leader. With better tyre management and renewed confidence, he struck back, retook the lead, and pulled clear enough to secure victory.
It was his seventh win in a row—but also the narrowest escape of his campaign so far.
Lecuona Pushes the Leader All the Way
Second place went to Iker Lecuona, and it may have been one of his most encouraging rides of the season.
The Spaniard judged the changing conditions perfectly when the rain first arrived and was prepared to take risks when others hesitated. That bravery allowed him to catch and pass his teammate, putting genuine pressure on the unbeaten championship leader.
In the end, front tyre drop-off limited his ability to resist Bulega’s late counterattack, but the performance confirmed that Lecuona has the pace to challenge regularly if he can find a little more consistency over full race distance.
Just as importantly, it showed that Bulega’s rivals are beginning to close the gap.
Sam Lowes Returns to the Podium
Sam Lowes completed the podium after a composed and intelligent ride for the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team.
Starting from the front row, the British rider spent all 21 laps in third place and never put a wheel wrong. Having recently returned from a wrist fracture, this result marked his first podium of the season and a welcome reward after several difficult weeks.
Lowes has always been strong at flowing circuits, and Assen’s fast direction changes clearly suited both his riding style and the characteristics of the bike. More importantly, he looked physically comfortable throughout the race—an encouraging sign for the rounds ahead.
He also finished as the top Independent rider.
Bautista’s Best Performance So Far
Alvaro Bautista delivered one of his strongest rides of the year despite starting from the third row.
The double World Champion moved forward quickly on the opening laps and settled inside the top five. When rain hit the circuit, he was among the fastest riders on track and appeared especially confident in the trickiest conditions.
Unfortunately for Bautista, the time lost earlier in the race left too much ground to recover in the battle for the podium. Even so, fourth place represented progress and should give both rider and team confidence heading into the remainder of the weekend.
He also came out on top in an entertaining fight with Alex Lowes.
Midfield Drama and Penalties
There was no shortage of action behind the leading group.
Danilo Petrucci initially looked capable of joining the fight near the front, but his race was compromised by a double long-lap penalty for a jump start. That dropped the BMW rider down the order and ended any hopes of a major result.
Andrea Locatelli eventually led home a tightly packed seven-rider battle to secure sixth place for Yamaha. The Italian had to work hard throughout the race, defending from multiple challengers while trying to maintain contact with the riders ahead.
Miguel Oliveira was another standout performer. After starting only 13th on the grid, the Portuguese rider carved his way through the field to finish seventh, continuing his strong recent form and collecting valuable championship points.
Championship Update
Bulega’s unbeaten run means he further strengthens his position at the top of the standings.
Elsewhere, Oliveira’s recovery drive moved him into third overall, overtaking Axel Bassani in the championship table. With momentum building, the BMW rider is becoming a serious contender in the battle behind the dominant Ducati duo.
Rider Reactions
Nicolo Bulega – Aruba.it Racing Ducati
“This race was more complicated than I expected. It was a very good race, but when the rain started in the last laps and you’re leading, it’s difficult to know how much risk to take. When Iker passed me, I decided not to do anything silly and just follow him. Later the track started to dry again, so I pushed once more. I had managed the front tyre well and that helped me at the end. I’m in a good run of results and I want to continue like this. Winning is everything.”
Iker Lecuona – Aruba.it Racing Ducati
“I’m really happy with second place. When the rain came, it was heavy for one lap, so I took a chance because I usually feel strong in those conditions. I saw an opportunity, caught Nicolo and passed him. But then my front tyre dropped a lot and I started to struggle, so he came back through. Still, second is a good result. We need a little more for tomorrow, but step by step we’re improving.”
Sam Lowes – ELF Marc VDS Racing Team
“I think third was the right result for us. The rain helped me close the gap a little, but honestly I’ve been third in terms of pace all weekend. My Superpole lap was strong too, so I’m pleased. This track suits me from my Moto2 days, especially the fast sectors. The bike is working well, but we can still improve in a few corners tonight.”
WorldSBK Race 1 Results
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati)
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) +1.618s
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +2.923s
Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) +6.376s
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +11.775s
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +17.167s
Fastest Lap: Nicolo Bulega – 1’33.341 (new lap record)
Last-Lap Brilliance Gives Masia Another WorldSSP Victory
The WorldSSP race delivered one of the finishes of the day, with Jaume Masia producing a sensational final lap to snatch victory in the closing corners.
Running third as the last lap began, the Orelac Racing VerdNatura rider first passed Lucas Mahias at Turn 15, then immediately lined up Albert Arenas for one final attack into the chicane. A perfectly timed slipstream and brave braking move completed the job.
It was Masia’s second win of the season and another important result in the title race.
Drama for Oncu, Strong Return for Aegerter
Can Oncu was heavily involved throughout after leading at the end of the opening lap. But contact with Tom Booth-Amos at Turn 17 on the final lap forced the Turkish rider wide and dropped him to tenth at the flag.
Booth-Amos recovered from the clash to finish third, while Valentin Debise and Lucas Mahias stayed in the lead group to complete a tightly packed top five.
Dominique Aegerter also impressed. Starting from the fourth row, the double WorldSSP champion climbed to sixth and crossed the line less than one second behind the winner in one of his strongest rides since returning to the class.
Championship Picture
Masia now extends his lead in the standings to 11 points over Arenas.
Debise remains third, but now trails by 33 points.
Jaume Masia Reaction
“I’m fighting as hard as I can and, with our current package, I think I’m difficult to beat. I’m really happy. It was a crazy race with a few drops of rain and a big group at the front. The slipstream kept everyone together and in the end we managed to win. I really enjoyed battling with Arenas. It was a fair fight between two manufacturers.”
WorldSSP Race 1 Results
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura)
Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) +0.080s
Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.435s
The local crowd had even more to celebrate when Jeffrey Buis claimed victory in the Sportbike race at his home circuit.
A former double Supersport 300 winner at Assen, Buis added another memorable chapter by taking his first Sportbike victory after a superb final-lap move.
The Dutchman had briefly lost positions after a small mistake one lap from the end, but recovered brilliantly to fight back and steal the win when it mattered most.
Tight Finish Behind the Winner
Xavi Artigas spent the race in the lead group and finished just 0.065s behind Buis, securing his first podium of the season.
David Salvador completed the top three and, with another podium finish, continued his impressive consistency at the start of the 2026 campaign.
Matteo Vannucci, Ferre Fleerackers and Bruno Ieraci were all within a second of the winner in a race that remained undecided until the final metres.
Championship Notes
Salvador now leads the standings by eight points over Buis.
Kawasaki remains top of the manufacturers’ table, 19 points clear of Suzuki, although Suzuki celebrated its first win in the category thanks to Buis.
Kove also opened its points account for the season after Benat Fernandez finished ninth, meaning seven manufacturers have now scored points in 2026.
Fleerackers will start the next race from pole after setting the fastest lap.
Jeffrey Buis Reaction
“The race went really well. I made a small mistake with one lap to go, looked behind and lost a couple of positions. I had to fight back, but I managed to pass them on the final lap and that made the win even more special. Three wins in a row here at Assen is incredible. I don’t really have the words for it. And to give Suzuki its first Sportbike victory means a lot.”
Sportbike Race 1 Results
Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing)
Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) +0.065s
David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) +0.473s
From changing weather in WorldSBK, to last-corner drama in WorldSSP, to a home celebration in Sportbike, Assen once again produced a full day of memorable racing.
Bulega remains unbeaten, but the gap is narrowing. If Saturday was any indication, the rest of the weekend still has plenty more to offer.
