Bulega Untouchable at Phillip Island
A flawless weekend in all conditions
There are dominant weekends – and then there are statements. What Nicolo Bulega produced at the iconic 4.445km Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit was the latter.
After securing pole position, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider completed a perfect sweep, winning all three races across the opening round. Across the entire weekend he led all but three laps, controlling proceedings in both dry sunshine and torrential rain. It was the sort of performance that not only earns maximum points, but also sends an unmistakable message to the rest of the paddock.
Phillip Island is a circuit that punishes hesitation. Its long, flowing corners place constant load on the tyres and demand absolute trust in the front end. Bulega had that trust from the first session, and by Sunday afternoon he had turned it into total domination.
Superpole Race – Pressure on Slicks
Sunday morning’s Superpole Race provided an early twist. Starting from the middle of the front row, Montella grabbed the holeshot and led a WorldSBK race lap for the first time in his career. For several laps he looked composed and confident at the front.
However, light rain began to fall mid-race while most of the field were on slick tyres. Bulega judged the conditions to perfection, making a decisive pass at Turn 10 to seize control. From there he managed the remaining laps expertly to secure victory.
Behind him, Bassani and Alex Lowes delivered a double podium for Bimota – a landmark result for the Italian manufacturer and Bassani’s first rostrum appearance since 2023. Montella slipped back to fourth, while Sam Lowes and Garrett Gerloff hovered just behind the podium fight.
Bautista and Iker Lecuona made significant progress from 12th and 13th on the grid respectively, finishing seventh and ninth to secure stronger starting positions for Race 2.
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 10 laps
2. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +2.752s
3. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +3.563s
Race 2 – Mastery in the Monsoon
If Race 1 had been about pace and control, Race 2 became a test of nerve.
A heavy downpour before the start transformed conditions, leaving standing water offline and drastically reducing visibility. Despite the chaos, Bulega launched cleanly from pole and immediately asserted control. By the end of the opening lap he was more than a second clear. At half distance the advantage had stretched to five seconds. By the chequered flag, the margin was an emphatic 11 seconds.
Behind him, the fight for the podium was intense and constantly evolving.
Axel Bassani, riding for the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, started from the front row and was immediately embroiled in a scrap with Alex and Sam Lowes. Once the race settled into rhythm, Bassani established himself in third position and focused on consistency – a strategy that would ultimately pay off.
Yari Montella, representing the Barni Spark Racing Team, showed impressive early pace and overtook Bassani on Lap 2. However, pushing hard in treacherous conditions carries risk. On Lap 16 he crashed heavily at Turn 9, ending what had been a podium-bound ride. His misfortune elevated teammate Alvaro Bautista to third, securing the Spaniard’s first podium of the new campaign.
Further back, Tarran Mackenzie delivered one of the standout rides of his Superbike career. The MGM Optical Express Racing rider thrived in the wet, climbing to fourth – his best result in the category. A late crash for Alex Lowes removed another obstacle, allowing Mackenzie to bring the bike home without further pressure.
Andrea Locatelli led the Yamaha charge in fifth for Pata Maxus Yamaha, ahead of Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira, both representing the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.
There was heartbreak for Sam Lowes. After running in podium contention during the early laps, the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team rider suffered a high-speed crash at Turn 3. Medical checks later confirmed a left wrist fracture along with heavy bruising to his right hand and left ankle – an unfortunate end to an otherwise competitive weekend.
Championship Picture After Round 1
Bulega departs Australia with a 20-point advantage over Bassani in the Riders’ Standings. Despite his Race 2 crash, Montella remains third overall thanks to his earlier results.
In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Ducati holds a 20-point lead after a near-perfect weekend, although all six manufacturers managed to score – underlining the depth and competitiveness of the 2026 field.
Rider Reaction – WorldSBK
Nicolo Bulega – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati (P1)
“It’s been an incredible weekend. The Superpole Race was tricky because it started raining while we were on slick tyres. I had to stay calm and manage the risk. Before Race 2 I was frustrated because I felt very strong in the dry, but when the rain came I tried to turn that frustration into motivation. From the start I had good feeling, even when the track became very slippery. Winning in both conditions makes this weekend even more special.”
Axel Bassani – bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team (P2)
“We’ve been fast all week and consistent. In the wet I didn’t expect such a strong result because our feeling during testing wasn’t great. I focused on staying smooth and not making mistakes. The team worked incredibly hard and having both bikes on the podium in the Superpole Race showed our progress.”
Alvaro Bautista – Barni Spark Racing Team (P3)
“We changed the setup and it improved my confidence. In the Superpole Race I made up a lot of positions and felt competitive. Race 2 was like a lottery with the conditions. Finishing third is a solid result and a good way to end the weekend.”
Race 2 Results
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +11.336s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) +17.790s
4. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) +28.356s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +30.966s
6. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +31.901s
WorldSSP – Arenas Takes the Gamble
The Supersport Race 2 was no less dramatic.
A heavy rain shower just before the start forced teams into a high-stakes tyre decision. Slicks or wets? The top four finishers gambled on slick tyres – and it proved decisive.
Albert Arenas, riding for the AS BLU CRU Racing Team, judged the situation perfectly to claim victory on his debut WorldSSP weekend. Conditions were borderline, but as the track gradually dried, the slick runners surged forward.
In an extraordinary ride, Aldi Satya Mahendra stormed from last on the grid to second, completing a one-two for the team. He opted for slicks at the final moment, took the lead within two laps and ultimately finished just under five seconds behind Arenas after 18 laps.
Jaume Masia, winner of Race 1 for Orelac Racing Verdnatura, started from pole but chose wet tyres. As the circuit improved, he was forced to pit for slicks, salvaging a top-ten finish. Can Oncu was the best of the riders who made a similar switch, coming home fifth for Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing.
Championship Standings – WorldSSP
Arenas leaves Australia leading the standings by seven points over Masia, while Matteo Ferrari sits third after another strong weekend.
In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Ducati and Yamaha are separated by just three points – a sign that the Supersport title fight may be as unpredictable as the weather that shaped the opening round.
Albert Arenas – Reaction
“It feels amazing to win again. It hasn’t been an easy weekend because we had some issues earlier on, but we solved them step by step. In warm-up we tried both rain tyres and slicks, and that gave us confidence in our decision. It was raining on the grid, but I felt the track was still manageable. I checked the forecasts carefully and decided to take the risk. Sometimes you have to trust your instinct – and today it paid off.”
From Bulega’s clinical sweep in WorldSBK to Arenas’ calculated gamble in WorldSSP, Phillip Island delivered high drama and early championship momentum. One round down, and already the tone of 2026 is unmistakable.
Race 2 Results
1. Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team)
2. Aldi Satya Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) +4.937s
3. Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) +13.967s
4. Alessandro Giombini (Motozoo by Puccetti Racing) +50.953s
5. Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +1’25.203s
6. Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) +1 Lap
Images Official WorldSBK
