Thursday at the Circuito Estoril has kicked off with plenty of noise as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock settles in for the Tissot Estoril Round. From home-race pressure to crucial discussions about next year's grid, the riders had plenty to unpack in Thursday's debriefs.
For Miguel Oliveira of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, returning to Estoril brings back memories of growing up as a little racer, having not competed at the track since 2012. Despite expecting a chaotic weekend with everyone keen to watch World Superbike on home soil, the rider feels much more relaxed than at Portimao and is simply looking to enjoy a good result.
Newly crowned champion Nicolo Bulega of the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati squad is still adjusting to his recent success. Having spent an entire week answering messages on his phone, the champion admitted he might still not realise his achievement one hundred percent because celebrations were kept brief with the season not yet finished.
Meanwhile, Danilo Petrucci of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team opened up about an uncertain future, noting that these could potentially be his final two rounds in World Superbike. While waiting on BMW and mentioning talks with GoEleven, the rider admitted that nothing is in his hands yet regarding a seat for next season.
Alvaro Bautista of the Barni Spark Racing Team offered a brutally honest assessment of a difficult campaign, stating that the team has tried harder and harder while achieving much less than expected with a machine that felt built for bigger riders. With no clear proposals currently motivating him to keep racing beyond the current campaign, the rider just wants to finish out the season and take a break.
On the other side of the garage movements, Xavi Vierge of Pata Maxus Yamaha is buzzing about securing a move to Barni Ducati for 2027. Calling it a big opportunity that arrived at a good moment in his career, the rider is eager to team up with Yari and tackle the final rounds at tracks that suit their package.
Finally, Iker Lecuona of Aruba.it Racing - Ducati arrives at a circuit where he earned a podium two years ago, aiming to build on a maiden hat-trick. While acknowledging that repeating another triple will be difficult, the rider is ready to see what the weekend holds after trying a new base at Cremona.
