Bulega Sets the Pace, But Toprak Lays Down a Warning Shot

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Under cloudless skies and ideal track conditions, the action at Circuito do Estoril got underway with Nicolo Bulegadrawing first blood. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati star set the benchmark on Friday, topping the timesheets with a 1’35.778 — edging out Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alex Lowes in a session that saw three different manufacturers fill the top three spots.

Bulega’s day was all about controlled speed and precision. Completing 40 laps in total, the Italian was consistently quick across shorter stints, finishing two-tenths clear of his closest rival. But while the outright pace belonged to the Ducati man, the real story of the day might have been Razgatlioglu’s ominous long-run consistency.
The ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider, who currently leads the championship, strung together an impressive 16-lap race simulation that showcased both his rhythm and resilience. Each lap was a reminder of why the Turkish rider remains the benchmark in full-distance runs — smooth, relentless, and razor-sharp heading into race day.

Behind them, the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team duo made a strong statement of intent. Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani both finished inside the top five in both practice sessions, confirming that the KB4 Rimini package is beginning to unlock its potential around Estoril’s 4.182km layout. The team’s progress since its debut rounds was clear for all to see.

Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) also impressed late in the day. With a fresh tyre bolted on for his final run, the British rider vaulted into fifth place, narrowly ahead of Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) by a mere tenth. For Rea — a six-time World Champion — it was an encouraging showing as he continued to refine his setup, spending both sessions comfortably inside the top ten.

There was also a welcome sight further down the order as Iker Lecuona made his return to the saddle after missing several rounds with a fractured right arm. The Honda HRC man completed 21 laps and placed 18th overall, despite a harmless crash at Turn 2 midway through FP2.
Meanwhile, Danilo Petrucci’s weekend took a difficult turn. Still suffering from a hand injury sustained in a training accident before Estoril, the Barni Spark Racing Team rider attempted Free Practice 1 but withdrew before the afternoon session after completing 16 laps. With only 31 points separating Petrucci, Andrea Locatelli, and Álvaro Bautista in the fight for third overall, the setback could prove costly.

Friday’s Top Three Speak Out

P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati):
“Today was a very positive start. Estoril isn’t the most complicated track, but it’s not one that usually suits us perfectly either, so I’m pleased to begin like this. We improved some key areas from FP1 to FP2, which makes me confident for tomorrow. The gap to Toprak is small, and we’re clearly the strongest two at the moment. It’s only Friday, though — the real work begins now.”

P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team):
“Today I was focused completely on race simulation. In my first stint, I used a 20-lap tyre and managed a 1’36.6. After that, I switched to a new one and kept pushing — 17 laps all within 1’36.0 to 1’36.2, which is very strong. On the last lap, I did a 1’36.0 before boxing. We’re working for race distance, but I’m still not satisfied with engine braking in a few corners. My crew will sort that. I’m not here for second place — I’m here to win.”

P3 – Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team):
“It’s our first time here with the bimota and I really enjoyed it. The bike felt great through the flowing middle section, and we’re learning a lot with every lap. There are still some parts of the track where I’m losing time, but Axel [Bassani] is fast, so we’ll compare data and try to piece it all together for tomorrow. Overall, a really positive day.”

Combined Results after FP2:

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’35.778
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.232
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.570
Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.623
Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) +0.647
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.761

Contrasting Fortunes for Title Rivals in WorldSSP

In the World Supersport (WorldSSP) field, Can Öncü bounced back in style to secure his fourth Superpole of the season, despite suffering a dramatic crash at Turn 1 midway through the session. The Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team rider’s spirits were further lifted when his title rival Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) endured his worst qualifying of the year — lining up 13th as he heads into his first shot at clinching the championship.

Öncü’s teammate Alberto Surra also hit the deck but still managed to qualify second, completing a Yamaha front-row lockout alongside Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) in third. The surprise of the day came from Raffaele De Rosa (QJMOTOR Factory Racing), who delivered the Chinese manufacturer’s best-ever qualifying result in fourth — a major milestone for both rider and team.

Manzi, who holds a 60-point advantage with four races left, can wrap up the title in Race 1 if he outscores Öncü by 15 points or more. But after today’s contrasting sessions, the momentum — and psychological edge — may have swung toward the Turkish rider.

P1 – Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team):
“I’m really happy and super motivated. We’ve been working hard for this round, and this pole shows the effort of the entire team. We’re close to being fully ready for the race, just a few small details left. Manzi is still strong, but I think today we showed great progress. I also want to thank my teammate Surra — his pace helped a lot. It was great teamwork today.”

Top 6 – WorldSSP Superpole:

Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) 1’39.608
Alberto Surra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.269
Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +0.376
Raffaele De Rosa (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) +0.442
Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +0.527
Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.561

Vannucci Doubles Up with Back-to-Back Poles in WorldSSP300

The WorldSSP300 category produced another record-breaking performance as Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia) stormed to pole position for the second round in a row, setting a new lap record in the process. The Italian looked untouchable over the 25-minute Superpole session, finishing two-tenths clear of Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki), with Antonio Torres (Team ProDina XCI) completing the front row.

The second row will be just as fierce — featuring the top three riders in the championship standings. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) leads the group from series leader Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) and Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki), promising an explosive showdown when the lights go out.

P1 – Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300):
“It’s the perfect way to start the weekend. I really enjoy this track, but honestly, I didn’t expect this pole. The team worked incredibly well, and our setup felt amazing. We’re confident heading into the races.”