The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship wrapped up its record-breaking 2026 campaign at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia for the Pirelli Spanish Round. It was a weekend of stark contrasts, featuring brilliant comebacks, devastating late-race heartbreak, and historic milestones as the grid closed the book on the year.
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) completely turned his fortunes around after a difficult Estoril. The #14 machine was practically glued to the sharp end all weekend, missing the top three only once during FP3. He split the factory Ducatis in the Tissot Superpole session to start second on the grid and calmly converted that into P2 in Race 1, marking his first rostrum appearance since Cremona. While Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) edged him out in the Tissot Superpole Race, Lowes bounced back in Race 2. Fourth place looked locked in until late-race rain arrived, allowing Lowes to hunt down Alvaro Bautista and snatch the final podium spot on the final lap.
That last-lap move brought pure jubilation for Lowes and absolute heartbreak for Bautista. Bautista's future remains unconfirmed as the two-time Champion weighs his next moves, but his speed at Estoril and Jerez proved he can still run at the front. Starting ninth after Superpole, he fought to fourth in Race 1 and sixth in the Superpole Race. In Race 2, a stunning launch put him in the podium places by Turn 1. He held off early pressure from Lowes and stretched his advantage to around 1.3 seconds by Lap 13. But as the rain started to fall, Lowes reeled him in, and despite a valiant defense, Lowes forced his way through at Turn 5 on the final lap to deny the 63-time race winner a potential farewell rostrum.
Meanwhile, Nicolo Bulega continued to obliterate the history books before his departure to MotoGP. Already holding records for the most consecutive wins, most podiums, and most wins in a single campaign, the #11 added even more silverware to his collection. He matched Ben Spies' 2009 benchmark of 11 poles in a single season. He secured his 50th victory in just 106 races—a staggering 44 races faster than the previous record holder, Troy Bayliss. A hat-trick of wins at Jerez brought him level with Bayliss on 52 career victories, putting him fifth on the all-time list. Furthermore, his Superpole Race win pushed him to 701 points, making him the first rider in history to break the 700-point barrier, eventually finishing the year on 726 points out of a possible 744.
Down the pit lane, Yamaha endured a difficult weekend that capped off a tough year, leaving with just a handful of points. Xavi Vierge looked set for points in Race 1 until his machine dramatically burst into flames down the start-finish straight. Both Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) managed to score, but Vierge delivered Yamaha's standout moment by snatching P9 on the final lap of the Superpole Race amid a scrap between Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) and Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing). Vierge then wrapped up the weekend as Yamaha's sole points scorer with a P12 finish in Race 2. The manufacturer will now pin its hopes on lessons learned throughout the year, upcoming 2027 rule changes, and the arrival of Jack Miller.
