Nicolo Bulega has just done it again, writing his name deeper into the history books with an incredible 28th win of the 2026 campaign during the Tissot Superpole Race at the Circuito Estoril. Driving for Aruba.it Racing - Ducati, Bulega managed the chaos behind him to take the checkered flag and eclipse the previous single-season win record of 27 set by Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) back in 2023. To cap off a stunning session, the champion also laid down a blistering new lap record with a 1'34.525.
Behind him, the 10-lap sprint was absolute madness from the very second the lights went out. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) launched off the line like a rocket, grabbing the lead at Turn 1. Further back, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) threw himself into an aggressive move at the opening corner, clashing with Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and sending both tumbling down the order. That messy opening skirmish earned Montella a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding and immediately handed Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) a provisional podium spot right behind polesitter Bulega.
The drama at the front shifted on Lap 3 when Lecuona suffered a massive moment under braking at Turn 1 and ran wide. That error handed the lead straight to his teammate Bulega, while giving Oliveira an opening to lunge for second place—though Lecuona's #7 machine desperately held on. With clear air ahead, Bulega cruised to his historic victory, finishing 0.734s ahead of Lecuona, who proudly claimed his 30th WorldSBK podium, 28 of which have arrived this season.
Then came the heartbreak for the home crowd. It looked like Oliveira had third place safely locked down, but Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) had other ideas. Surra mounted a fierce late charge and swept past the BMW star at Turn 3 on Lap 10, defending his position expertly across the remainder of the final lap to secure third place—his third rostrum appearance in the last four races—leaving Oliveira stranded 6.606s off the win and just behind Surra by a gap of 6.465s overall.
Further down the order, Alvaro Bautista fought his way forward from a strong start, climbing into the top five and finishing 8.152s back for his first top-five result since the Balaton Park Superpole Race. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) kept pace to take sixth place at 10.035s behind, securing a second-row start for Race 2 alongside Oliveira and Bautista.
Behind them, Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) grabbed seventh with a time of 11.642s, just ahead of Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) in eighth at 12.120s, and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) rounded out the top nine at 12.960s. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) missed out on a third-row start by finishing in P10, while the early chaos caught up to Alex Lowes and Montella, relegating them to 10th and 11th respectively on the starting grid for the final race of the weekend in Portugal.
