Championship Leader Bounces Back with Two Victories to Seal Manufacturers’ and Teams’ Titles for Ducati

Nicolo Bulega enjoyed a perfect Sunday at Donington Park, responding to Saturday’s disappointment in emphatic fashion by winning both the Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2 to strengthen his grip on the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship.

The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider not only restored his winning momentum but also helped Ducati secure two major championship honours. Sunday’s results confirmed the Italian manufacturer as the 2026 WorldSBK Manufacturers’ Champion with four rounds still remaining, while Aruba.it Racing Ducati also wrapped up the Teams’ Championship after another flawless weekend.

Bulega’s pair of victories completed a remarkable turnaround after teammate Iker Lecuona had ended his winning streak by claiming Race 1 on Saturday. Rather than allowing that defeat to affect him, the championship leader returned with renewed determination, demonstrating the consistency and race management that have defined his outstanding season.

It was another dominant display from Ducati, which once again locked out the podium positions and continued a campaign that has seen the Panigale V4 R establish itself as the benchmark package in the WorldSBK paddock.

Superpole Race Delivers Early Sunday Drama

Bulega Battles Past Montella After Lecuona’s Early Crash

Sunday’s action began with an entertaining 10-lap Superpole Race that featured plenty of early drama.

Iker Lecuona made another lightning getaway from the front row, repeating the fast starts that have become a trademark of his weekend. The Spaniard grabbed the holeshot into Redgate and quickly opened a lead of almost one second over the chasing pack.

However, his race came to an abrupt end on only the second lap.

Pushing hard through the Goddards complex, Lecuona lost the front of his Ducati and slid into retirement, ending what had looked like another potential victory. The crash also carried an additional penalty, forcing him to start Race 2 from tenth on the grid.

Lecuona’s misfortune handed the lead to Barni Spark Racing’s Yari Montella, who immediately found himself under pressure from championship leader Nicolo Bulega.

Montella defended superbly throughout the opening laps and looked capable of fighting for victory before Bulega launched his decisive move at the Melbourne Loop on Lap 5.

Once the Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider moved ahead, he quickly settled into a controlled rhythm and steadily increased his advantage over the closing laps.

Montella crossed the finish line in second to complete another Ducati one-two, while Britain’s Sam Lowes delivered an impressive ride to secure third for ELF Marc VDS Racing Team.

The podium carried added emotional significance for the Marc VDS squad, who began Sunday by paying tribute to late team founder Marc van der Straten with a minute’s applause before racing commenced.

Lowes also added another highlight by setting a new Superpole Race lap record during his charge to the podium.

Superpole Race – Top Three

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati)
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +1.581s
3. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +3.346s

Race 2 Seals a Perfect Weekend

Bulega Leads Ducati One-Two as Lecuona Charges Through the Field

Despite starting only tenth after his earlier crash, Iker Lecuona produced one of the standout rides of the season in Race 2.

The Spaniard wasted no time recovering lost ground.

By the end of the opening lap he had already dispatched Garrett Gerloff before carving through the field with a series of confident overtaking moves at Melbourne Loop, passing Axel Bassani, Tommy Bridewell and Alex Lowes in quick succession.

His progress continued relentlessly.

With nine laps remaining, Lecuona overtook both Sam Lowes and fellow Ducati rider Yari Montella at Goddards to move into second place.

Although his recovery was remarkable, Bulega had already established enough of an advantage to remain comfortably out of reach.

The Italian gradually extended his lead throughout the second half of the race before taking the chequered flag with a commanding margin of around four seconds.

Montella completed the podium to secure yet another Ducati lockout of the top three positions, highlighting the Bologna manufacturer’s overwhelming pace throughout the Donington Park weekend.

Ducati’s Dominance Continues

Manufacturers’ Championship Wrapped Up With Four Rounds Remaining

Sunday’s victories capped another milestone in Ducati’s extraordinary 2026 campaign.

Thanks to an almost flawless season in which the Panigale V4 R has consistently outperformed its rivals, Ducati secured the Manufacturers’ Championship with four rounds still left on the calendar.

The title was achieved after accumulating the maximum possible points total of 496, underlining the remarkable consistency of both the factory Aruba.it Racing Ducati team and Ducati’s satellite entries.

The achievement adds another chapter to Ducati’s long history in WorldSBK, where the Italian manufacturer has traditionally enjoyed enormous success since the championship was founded in 1988.

This season has arguably been one of its most dominant, with Bulega and Lecuona regularly controlling races while independent Ducati teams have also contributed heavily to the manufacturer’s success.

Bulega Extends Championship Advantage

Riders’ Title Moves Closer Before Summer Break

As impressive as Ducati’s manufacturers’ success has been, Nicolo Bulega’s individual championship campaign continues to strengthen.

Following his Sunday double, the Italian extended his advantage over teammate Iker Lecuona to 133 points heading into the summer break.

With only a handful of rounds remaining, Bulega now finds himself firmly in control of the Riders’ Championship.

Saturday’s defeat proved only a temporary setback, as overnight improvements to the bike allowed him to return with even greater confidence on Sunday.

His consistency throughout the season has become the defining feature of the title race, with victories arriving across a wide variety of circuits rather than relying on tracks that naturally suit his riding style.

Montella Continues Outstanding Form

Six Consecutive Podiums Strengthen Third Place

While the spotlight understandably focused on the factory Ducati riders, Yari Montella quietly continued one of the strongest runs of his WorldSBK career.

The Barni Spark Racing rider collected three third-place finishes across the Donington Park weekend, extending his streak to six consecutive podiums.

Those consistent results have significantly strengthened his hold on third place in the Riders’ Championship, opening a 29-point cushion over Alex Lowes.

Montella has steadily developed into one of the championship’s most reliable performers, regularly challenging the factory riders while leading the independent Ducati contingent.

His progress also highlights the competitiveness of Ducati’s customer programme, with satellite teams consistently capable of fighting for podium finishes.

Intense Midfield Battle Produces Close Racing

Bassani Beats Lowes in Fight for Fourth

Behind the dominant Ducati trio, Race 2 featured an entertaining battle involving several manufacturers.

Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes spent much of the race fighting for fourth place aboard their Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team machines.

Bassani eventually found a way past his teammate with only three laps remaining before holding on to the position until the finish.

Garrett Gerloff remained within striking distance throughout the closing stages but could not find an opportunity to challenge the Bimota pairing.

Sam Lowes eventually crossed the line in seventh after another competitive performance, while Lorenzo Baldassarri benefited from a late mistake by Xavi Vierge to claim eighth place in the closing laps.

Riders Reflect on Sunday’s Success

Bulega admitted Saturday’s defeat motivated both himself and the team to work harder overnight.

The Italian praised his mechanics for improving the motorcycle’s setup, explaining that Sunday’s machine allowed him to ride far more naturally and confidently around Donington Park.

Although he has traditionally considered the British circuit one of the more difficult venues on the calendar, Bulega described winning there as particularly satisfying because it required adapting his riding style throughout the weekend.

Lecuona accepted responsibility for his Superpole Race crash but was delighted with his Race 2 recovery.

Starting from the fourth row, he quickly realised victory would be unrealistic given Bulega’s pace, instead focusing on securing second place through calculated overtaking rather than taking unnecessary risks.

Montella also expressed satisfaction after securing a podium in every race throughout the weekend.

The Italian admitted tyre degradation prevented him from matching Bulega during the closing stages but described Donington as his strongest event of the season so far.

Race 2 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati)
2. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing Ducati)
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)
4. Axel Bassani (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team)
5. Alex Lowes (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team)
6. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team)

Tom Booth-Amos Completes Dream Weekend with WorldSSP Double

British Rider Delivers Triumph’s Perfect Home Celebration

Tom Booth-Amos completed one of the most memorable weekends of his racing career by securing a second World Supersport victory at Donington Park.

Having already won Saturday’s opening race, the PTR Triumph Factory Racing rider returned on Sunday to complete a remarkable home double in front of an enthusiastic British crowd.

The victory marked the first double-win weekend of Booth-Amos’ WorldSSP career and confirmed the rapid progress both rider and Triumph have made during the 2026 campaign.

Contact Fails to Stop Booth-Amos

British Rider Fights Back After Mid-Race Incident

Booth-Amos appeared comfortably in control during the early stages before his race briefly unravelled following contact with Can Oncu at the Melbourne Loop.

The collision dropped the Triumph rider back to fourth place while Oncu was later handed a one-position penalty for causing the incident.

Rather than becoming frustrated, Booth-Amos immediately regrouped.

Working his way back through the field with a series of decisive overtakes, he regained the lead before the final third of the race and steadily pulled clear of the chasing pack.

From there, the British rider never looked threatened, taking the chequered flag more than a second clear of championship leader Albert Arenas.

Arenas Strengthens Championship Lead

Consistency Keeps Spaniard in Control

Albert Arenas once again prioritised championship points over unnecessary risks.

The AS BLU CRU Racing Team rider spent virtually the entire race inside the leading group before securing another valuable second-place finish.

With several championship rivals struggling throughout the weekend, Arenas increased his lead in the standings to 82 points over Valentin Debise.

His consistency continues to make him the rider to beat as the championship heads into its second half.

Masia Snatches Final Podium

Last-Corner Move Rewards Late Charge

The battle for the final podium position went right down to the final corner.

Jaume Masia produced a perfectly judged move on Roberto Garcia at Goddards to snatch third place just before the chequered flag.

Garcia narrowly missed the podium but still delivered another strong performance by finishing fourth ahead of teammate Lucas Mahias.

Jeremy Alcoba completed the top six after another consistent weekend.

Booth-Amos Climbs Championship Standings

The British rider’s perfect weekend has significantly improved his championship position.

Booth-Amos now sits fifth overall and has reduced the gap to Jaume Masia to just 30 points.

Meanwhile, Triumph’s pair of victories has moved the British manufacturer to within a single point of third place in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

1. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing)
2. Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) +1.537s
3. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +2.244s
4. Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) +2.436s
5. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +3.090s
6. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +3.787s

WorldSSP Championship Standings

1. Albert Arenas – 291 points
2. Valentin Debise – 209 points
3. Jaume Masia – 195 points
4. Can Oncu – 178 points
5. Tom Booth-Amos – 165 points
6. Philipp Oettl – 139 points

Ducati and Triumph Carry Momentum into the Summer Break

The Donington Park weekend proved decisive across both championships.

In WorldSBK, Ducati strengthened its dominance by securing the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ titles while Nicolo Bulega moved another significant step closer to claiming the Riders’ Championship.

Meanwhile, in WorldSSP, Tom Booth-Amos gave British fans a weekend to remember with a sensational home double, while Albert Arenas continued to tighten his grip on the championship despite finishing runner-up.

With several weeks remaining before racing resumes, both championships head into the summer break with clear title favourites—but plenty of battles still to be decided before the 2026 season reaches its conclusion.