Nicolo Bulega just keeps rewriting the record books. The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati rider dominated Tissot Superpole at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia, claiming pole position with a stellar 1’36.643s lap during his second stint. That gives the #11 his 11th pole of the season and his 20th overall in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, while officially tying Ben Spies’ legendary record for poles in a single campaign set back in 2009. Ducati are matching history too, taking every single pole throughout 2026 to equal their own dominant run from 1992.
Right from the first flying lap, the pace of the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati machine was staggering. Bulega immediately dropped a 1’36.948s that put him almost half a second clear of the field. By the time the chequered flag fell, he had beaten ELF Marc VDS Racing Team's Sam Lowes by three tenths of a second—specifically a gap of +0.317s—with Lowes posting a 1’36.960s that was three quarters of a second faster than his pace at the track last year.
Completing the front row was Bulega's teammate, Iker Lecuona, who finished third with a gap of 0.455s separating the top three riders overall. Barni Spark Racing Team's Yari Montella narrowly missed the top three with a 1’37.381s, lining up fourth as he looks to defend his 53-point advantage in the world standings over the chasing #22.
Just behind Montella on the grid, Alex Lowes of the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team took fifth with a 1’37.443s, sitting exactly eight tenths slower than the pace-setting #11. Team GoEleven rider Lorenzo Baldassarri rounded out the top six after setting a 1’37.639s, leaving the top six covered by a tight spread.
Further down the order inside the top ten, Superbike Advocates rider Tommy Bridewell bounced back from a tricky Estoril weekend to grab seventh with a 1’37.753s. Motocorsa Racing's Alberto Surra arrived at Jerez riding a wave of form with four podiums across the last two rounds, but had to settle for eighth on the grid. Alvaro Bautista secured ninth with a 1’38.115s for the Barni Spark Racing Team, marking only his third top-ten Superpole result of the year, while Axel Bassani of the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team completed the top ten.
