Alberto Surra is making a serious statement as his debut 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign winds down. Fresh off a maiden rostrum at Cremona, the Motocorsa Racing rookie has struck again, securing his first-ever podium in a long race at the Circuito Estoril during the Tissot Estoril Round.
Things started with a razor-thin margin in the Tissot Superpole session. Alex Lowes (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) denied the Italian a front-row start by just eight hundredths of a second, leaving Surra to line up from P4 for Race 1. He wasted no time when the lights went out, sweeping past the British Bimota rider on Lap 2 to grab third place.
From there, the rookie managed his machine brilliantly. He steadily stretched a one-second cushion over Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) on Lap 4 to nearly two seconds by Lap 12. While fading late-race pace in longer distances has troubled him in the past, Surra held firm against the Portuguese MotoGP race winner on home soil, ultimately crossing the line 1.8 seconds ahead of the #88.
Reflecting on his Race 1 result, Surra said: "I’m really happy with my first podium in a long race. It’s even more emotional; it’s fantastic. I want to thank my team, they’re my second family. I have a great relationship with them. In this moment, I’ve been in a good mentality. Before Cremona, we improved the setup and something on the electronics. Now I have good feedback on the bike, and, step by step, I think another podium is possible. I don’t know if it will be at Estoril, but I know it’s possible."
With his 2027 seat already secured and the 2026 titles wrapped up, Surra is riding with total freedom over the final five races. He has continued to press forward despite the pressure from riders like Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). Still, the young Italian remains grounded regarding the top step, noting that Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and teammate Iker Lecuona currently possess an edge.
Looking ahead at the remainder of the season, Surra added: "I don’t think a win is possible yet, but it’s still the dream, but I’m staying focused for my best results race by race. Nicolo and Iker still have a really good package, and they are really fast riders. I’m a rookie, so I want to keep going step by step."
