WorldSBK Estoril: Nicolo Bulega Completes Hat-Trick as Ducati Dominates, Extends Championship Lead

Estoril, Portugal, October 11, 2026: Nicolo Bulega completed a dominant hat-trick at the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) Estoril Round, winning Race 2 to cap a perfect weekend for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati at the Circuito Estoril in Portugal. The Italian secured his 29th victory of the season, extended his championship lead over teammate Iker Lecuona to 146 points and rewrote the record books with a total of 664 points.

The penultimate round of the 2026 WorldSBK season attracted 36,257 spectators to the 4.182km circuit on the outskirts of Lisbon. Home favourite Miguel Oliveira provided plenty of action in front of the Portuguese crowd, while Bulega and Ducati remained the standout performers throughout the weekend.

Bulega Dominates Race 2 to Complete Estoril Hat-Trick

Bulega delivered another controlled performance in Race 2 after Lecuona made the best start to take the holeshot at Turn 1. The Spaniard led briefly before Bulega attacked at Turn 6 and moved into the lead.

Once in front, Bulega steadily increased his advantage, eventually crossing the finish line almost five seconds ahead of his teammate over the 21-lap race.

The victory completed Bulega’s ninth hat-trick of the 2026 season, underlining his remarkable consistency and Ducati’s dominance. His latest success also took his season points tally to 664, establishing new benchmarks in the WorldSBK record books.

Reflecting on his performance, Bulega said: “This is another amazing weekend. I think it’s maybe one of the best of the season because my feeling was good. My pace today in Race 2 was incredible. It was very fast.”

The Italian explained that his pace improved as the race progressed, allowing him to manage the tyres more effectively than in Race 1.

“It was close at the beginning of the race but then I continued to push and my pace from halfway through the race was a bit better. I could manage the tyre a bit better today compared to Race 1 so I’m really happy about my performance and how my team improved the bike,” he added.

With the final round approaching, Bulega is now focused on carrying his form into Jerez.

“I’m looking forward to going to Jerez for the final round.”

Lecuona Finishes Second After Early Challenge

Lecuona once again proved to be Bulega’s closest challenger, taking the holeshot in all three races at Estoril. However, the Spaniard was unable to match his teammate’s pace over a full race distance.

In Race 2, Lecuona initially stayed in front but surrendered the lead to Bulega after six corners. He subsequently attempted to remain within striking distance before deciding to manage the risk and secure second place.

Lecuona admitted that the weekend had been difficult, particularly after a major moment at Turn 1 in the Superpole Race. He also revealed that he had nearly lost control of the front at Turn 2 during Race 2.

“This was a hard weekend. I made a huge mistake in the Superpole Race and I think I had the race pace to win that race,” Lecuona said.

“After nine or 10 laps though I lost the front at Turn 2 and almost went into the gravel and then I decided to roll off and finish second.”

Despite his frustration, the Spaniard acknowledged Bulega’s superiority throughout the weekend.

“I tried to push as much as I could to stay with Nicolo and he also made some small mistakes but he was faster than me all weekend. I know that I have struggled a lot here so it’s just a matter of understanding it.”

Lecuona’s second-place finish nevertheless strengthened his position as championship runner-up, although Bulega’s commanding points advantage leaves the title battle firmly in the Italian’s hands.

Alberto Surra Secures Third After Bautista Crash

Alberto Surra claimed third place for Motocorsa Racing after a dramatic incident involving two-time World Champion Alvaro Bautista with five laps remaining.

Bautista crashed at Turn 1 while fighting for the final podium position, ending his hopes of securing his first podium finish since the season opener in Australia. Surra capitalised on the incident to take third, completing a clean sweep of third-place finishes across the Estoril weekend.

The result marked a significant achievement for Surra, who praised his team’s efforts and the rear-tyre grip that helped him challenge Bautista.

“For me it was the best weekend so I’m very happy because it was a solid weekend for me and my team. In Race 2 I had very good grip from the rear tyre and was able to pass Alvaro,” Surra said.

He now turns his attention to the season finale at Jerez, where he hopes to build on his best result despite anticipating a challenging circuit.

“Now I’m going to Jerez, which is a difficult circuit for my riding style but I’ll try to improve on my best result,” he added.

Yari Montella Clinches Best Independent Rider Award

Yari Montella of Barni Spark Racing Team produced an impressive recovery after starting from the fourth row. The Italian fought through the field and challenged Surra and Bautista during the race before finishing fourth, approximately seven seconds behind Surra.

Montella’s performance secured him the 2026 Best Independent Rider Award, while also strengthening his position in the championship standings.

He now holds a 53-point advantage over Alex Lowes in the battle for third in the Riders’ Championship, with only 62 points available at the final round in Jerez.

Miguel Oliveira Finishes Eighth at Home

Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira endured a difficult Race 2 in front of his home crowd. Starting fourth for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Oliveira ran wide at Turn 6 on the opening lap and dropped to 13th.

The former MotoGP race winner subsequently fought his way through a six-rider group to recover to eighth at the chequered flag, earning valuable support from the Estoril spectators.

Although Oliveira missed out on a top-five finish, his recovery drive provided one of the talking points of the weekend for the home fans.

Bulega Moves 146 Points Clear as Ducati Targets Unbeaten Season

Bulega’s Estoril hat-trick leaves him with a 146-point advantage over Lecuona with just three races remaining in the 2026 WorldSBK season.

Ducati also maintained its unbeaten record in the Manufacturers’ Championship, putting the Italian marque in contention to achieve its first unbeaten WorldSBK season since 2003.

Montella’s advantage in the fight for third place in the Riders’ Championship has also increased to 53 points over Alex Lowes, setting up an important battle at the final round.

The championship will conclude at Jerez, where Bulega will aim to finish his record-breaking campaign on a high, Lecuona will look to challenge his teammate once again, and the battle for the remaining championship positions will reach its climax.