Bulega opens 2026 with authority as Ducati sweep the podium

The 2026 WorldSBK season could hardly have begun in more emphatic fashion. At the sweeping, high-speed curves of the 4.445km Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Nicolo Bulega delivered exactly what the paddock expected – and perhaps a little more.

From pole position, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider nailed the launch, claimed the holeshot into Turn 1 and never looked back. Over 22 laps he controlled the pace with calm precision, managing tyre wear while maintaining a relentless rhythm. By the time the chequered flag fell, Bulega had built a lead of just under five seconds – a commanding margin at a circuit where slipstreaming and late-race tyre drop-off often compress the field.

Phillip Island rewards commitment, especially through corners like Stoner Corner and the long, loaded Turn 12, where front-end confidence is everything. Bulega had that confidence in abundance. It was a measured performance rather than an over-aggressive one – fast when needed, disciplined throughout.

Ducati Domination Behind the Leader

Behind Bulega, it was a red-washed podium as Ducati locked out the top three places.

Yari Montella, riding for the Barni Spark Racing Team, produced one of the rides of his career to secure second place. Starting from the front row, the Italian settled quickly into P2 and focused on maintaining a buffer over the chasing pack. He never quite had the pace to challenge Bulega directly, but he was equally secure from the fight behind, stretching his advantage when it mattered most.

Third place went to Lorenzo Baldassarri for Team GoEleven, and this was arguably the standout story of the podium. After returning to the Superbike class this season, Baldassarri has shown strong form throughout testing and practice, but Race 1 was a true test of his credentials. Starting from the third row, he worked his way forward in the opening laps and positioned himself for a podium fight.

The final third of the race turned into a tense duel. Axel Bassani, aboard the KB998 for the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, applied relentless pressure as he hunted what would have been his first podium in over two years. Lap after lap, Bassani probed for weaknesses, but Baldassarri refused to yield. At the line, the gap between them was a razor-thin 0.036 seconds – a margin that underlined just how fiercely contested the final podium spot had become.

Lecuona Charges, Oliveira Fights Back

Further down the order, there were strong recovery rides and notable battles.

Iker Lecuona, now also in Aruba Ducati colours after switching from Honda over the winter, started from the fifth row but made rapid early progress. The Spaniard carved through traffic with calculated aggression and eventually latched onto Alex Lowes. A decisive move at Turn 8 sealed the overtake, and Lecuona brought the bike home in sixth place – an encouraging result given his grid position.

Miguel Oliveira endured a much more complicated Saturday. After crashing in Superpole, the Portuguese rider lined up 21st on the grid for his WorldSBK debut with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. What followed was a composed and intelligent recovery. Oliveira picked off riders steadily and found himself locked in a mid-race battle with teammate Danilo Petrucci. The pair traded positions more than once before Oliveira finally established control and climbed to eighth at the flag – a result that owed as much to racecraft as raw speed.

There was disappointment for Xavi Vierge, who had been running inside the top ten for much of the race. The Yamaha rider suffered a heavy fall exiting Stoner Corner with six laps remaining, ending what had been a promising performance.

Rider Reactions – WorldSBK

Nicolo Bulega – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati (P1)
“This weekend has been incredible. We were fastest in every session, started from pole and then won Race 1. At this track I always feel something special. When the bike gives you confidence here, it’s hard to describe. You still have to stay focused because one small mistake can change everything. Managing the tyre and keeping the pace high is not easy. I’m very happy, but we need to keep working.”

Yari Montella – Barni Spark Racing Team (P2)
“This is a dream. My first WorldSBK podium means so much after a difficult year last season. The team gave me a strong base from testing and we just built on it step by step. We did our job in Superpole and then in the race. I’m proud of what we achieved today.”

Lorenzo Baldassarri – Team GoEleven (P3)
“Today I felt like I truly arrived in WorldSBK. It reminds me of my first big result in Supersport. We’ve been strong all week and the atmosphere in the garage is fantastic. The pressure at the end was intense, but I stayed calm and trusted the bike. This podium gives us confidence for the rest of the season.”

Race 1 – WorldSBK Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) – 22 laps
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +4.776s
3. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +6.147s
4. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +6.183s
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +8.249s
6. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +12.549s

Masia Delivers in WorldSSP as Bayliss Celebrates Career First

Earlier in the day, the Supersport field had already set the tone for a dramatic season opener.

Jaume Masia converted pole into victory in commanding fashion. Although he briefly lost the lead at the start to Can Oncu, the Spaniard regrouped, reclaimed control and dictated the tempo for the remainder of the 18-lap contest. Once in front, Masia steadily extended his advantage and eventually crossed the line more than five seconds clear.

Philipp Oettl secured second place and a valuable 20 championship points to begin his campaign strongly. But the loudest cheers from the grandstands were reserved for Oli Bayliss.

The young Australian, riding for PTR Triumph Factory Racing, delivered the first podium of his World Championship career on home soil. A mid-race moment at Siberia saw Bayliss run wide and nearly lose control, but he showed maturity beyond his years to recover, reset and fight through a tense three-rider scrap for third. In the closing laps, he held firm to secure a landmark result in front of his home fans.

There were setbacks for two other front-row starters. Tom Booth-Amos crashed at Turn 2 while chasing Masia early in the race, while Valentin Debise fell at Turn 4 during a podium battle. Both incidents reshuffled the order but did little to diminish Masia’s control at the front.

Thanks to their fastest laps, Masia, Oettl and Booth-Amos will line up on the front row for Race 2 under the reverse-grid rules, while Bayliss and Debise will start just behind.

Race 1 – WorldSSP Results

1. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) – 18 laps
2. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) +5.521s
3. Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +7.266s
4. Albert Arenas (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +7.721s
5. Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +7.743s
6. Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) +11.856s

Fastest Lap: Jaume Masia – 1’32.115s

With Race 1 complete, the message from Phillip Island is unmistakable. Bulega has picked up where he left off, Ducati have laid down an early marker, and in Supersport Masia has shown he will take some beating. The season has only just begun – but the tone has been set.

Images Official WorldSBK