Aruba.it Racing – Ducati delivered a one‑two finish on home soil at the Cremona Circuit, but it was Iker Lecuona who stole the show, taking a lights‑to‑flag victory to leave teammate Nicolo Bulega just one good result away from the 2026 WorldSBK crown. The day also brought maiden success in WorldSSP and a title twist in the support class. Here’s the full story from the Italian Round.
WorldSBK: Lecuona Flawless — Bulega Manages the Gap
From pole position, Lecuona made an immediate statement. He grabbed the holeshot and led every single lap of the 23‑lap contest, steadily building a cushion that grew to 5.591s by the finish line — and he capped it all by setting the fastest lap of the race on his way to the chequered flag.
The Race Unfolds
Bulega settled into second place from the start, holding a comfortable gap over the chasing pack after his difficult Friday with two crashes. He chose not to push beyond his limits, prioritising a solid finish and precious points over an all‑out attack on his teammate. Further back, the podium battle took several twists. Alberto Surra ran third early on but lost control and crashed at Turn 7, ending his challenge. Yari Montella’s tough weekend continued with another incident, his fourth across the two days.
That opened the door for Sam Lowes to move into the final rostrum spot, holding off a late charge from Lorenzo Baldassarri to secure his ninth podium finish of the season. Garrett Gerloff delivered his best result in four rounds in fifth, fending off Alex Lowes on the very last lap.
Race 1 Top Six
| 1 | Iker Lecuona | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati | — |
| 2 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati | +5.591s |
| 3 | Sam Lowes | ELF Marc VDS Racing Team | +7.247s |
| 4 | Lorenzo Baldassarri | Team GoEleven | +8.763s |
| 5 | Garrett Gerloff | Kawasaki WorldSBK Team | +20.250s |
| 6 | Alex Lowes | Bimota by Kawasaki | +20.567s |
What They Said
Iker Lecuona — P1:
“We changed the bike setup this afternoon and found something extra. This is the best I’ve felt on the Ducati all season. Actually, my start wasn’t great — one of my worst this year — but once I got into the rhythm I could pull away lap by lap. I lost a little grip at the front halfway through as the tyre dropped off, but I managed it perfectly. I’m loving this weekend.”
Nicolo Bulega — P2:
“I knew Iker would be strong. I decided not to take risks today — finishing was the most important thing. Yesterday I didn’t understand why I was crashing, so this morning I reset and rode at 90% to find my feeling back. Step by step we’ll increase that — maybe tomorrow I can push at 95%. Second place is solid and keeps the title within reach.”
Sam Lowes — P3:
“My pace was consistent all weekend, and I managed to go a little faster in those final laps. The start was tricky and grip was low early on, but as the race went on I got stronger. I set my best lap right at the end — that’s encouraging. We’ll keep working and push for more tomorrow.”
Title Scenarios — How Bulega Can Seal It
Bulega now holds a commanding 141‑point lead over Lecuona. The championship can be decided as early as the Tissot Superpole Race on Sunday:
- Superpole Race: Win the title if he outscores Lecuona by 8 points or more.
- Race 2: Secures the crown if he loses 17 points or fewer across both remaining races.
WorldSSP: Alcoba Takes Maiden Win — Arenas Closes in on Title
Jeremy Alcoba converted pole into his first ever WorldSSP victory in a race shortened to 13 laps by a red flag. The Kawasaki rider led all but one lap and held firm under relentless pressure, crossing the line just 0.568s clear of championship leader Albert Arenas, who produced a brilliant final‑lap move to snatch second place from Filippo Farioli. The top four finished covered by less than a second, with Valentin Debise fourth and Tom Booth‑Amos setting a new lap record to claim fifth.
Booth‑Amos’ fastest lap earns him pole for Race 2, with Alcoba and Debise joining him on the front row. Arenas lines up from row two.
Race 1 Top Six
| 1 | Jeremy Alcoba | Kawasaki WorldSSP Team | — |
| 2 | Albert Arenas | AS BLU CRU Racing | +0.568s |
| 3 | Filippo Farioli | VFT Racing Yamaha | +0.688s |
| 4 | Valentin Debise | EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros | +0.822s |
| 5 | Tom Booth‑Amos | PTR Triumph Factory | +3.761s |
| 6 | Matteo Ferrari | WRP Racing | +7.096s |
What They Said
Jeremy Alcoba — P1:
“This means everything. I’ve been searching for this moment and it’s been a tough season off the track with my future still uncertain. I knew I had to get a good start — I wasn’t going to give this one up. I saw my chance, took the lead, and then just protected it. To win here, with the team so close to home? Unforgettable.”
Title Watch — Arenas on the Brink
Arenas holds a 77‑point advantage over Debise. He will be crowned champion in Race 2 if he outscores his rival by 24 points.
World Sportsbike Class: Artigas Wins Thriller — Title Goes Down to Wire
Xavi Artigas kept his championship hopes alive with a second consecutive victory in a race that saw the lead change hands seven times. The Spaniard was in the top three throughout and timed his final push perfectly to cross the line just 0.108s ahead of Harrison Dessoy, with series leader David Salvador completing the podium. Artigas also set the fastest lap, earning pole for Race 2.
Salvador still leads by 21 points, meaning the title will be decided at the final round. Kawasaki also secured the Manufacturers’ Championship with its eighth win of the season from 13 races.
Race 1 Top Six
| 1 | Xavi Artigas | MTM Kawasaki | — |
| 2 | Harrison Dessoy | PHR Performance Triumph | +0.108s |
| 3 | David Salvador | Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI | +0.272s |
| 4 | Fenton Seabright | PHR Performance Triumph | +0.360s |
| 5 | Carter Thompson | Team BrCorse | +0.433s |
| 6 | Alvaro Fuertes | Deza‑Box 77 Racing | +0.502s |
What’s Next
Sunday brings the Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2 — and potentially a coronation for Nicolo Bulega. Will Lecuona keep the title fight alive? Can Albert Arenas wrap up WorldSSP honours? All will be decided as the sun sets over Cremona.
