Aruba. it factory Ducati’ s Nicolo Bulega secured the WorldSBK 2026 rider’ s title at Cremona and, coming to Estoril with the championship already his, it was expected that we’ d see peak Bulega again. He’ d played the smart percentages game at Cremona and ridden for points, not wins but at Estoril, there was no bigger picture to consider and it was game on.
ON THE BULEGAS Bulega didn’ t disappoint. Fastest in qualifying, three wins from three races and stablemate Iker Lecuona, basically, couldn’ t touch him. Lecuona played the wingman role again, second in qualifying, three second place finishes and an obvious degree of frustration that, when Bulega cut loose, he just couldn’ t stay with him. Bulega was the only rider to dip below 1m 34s in any race. He did it in all three.
BATTLES STILL TO FIGHT As to what was left to win, all eyes were on Barni Spark Ducati’ s Yari Montella who had the opportunity at Estoril to secure third overall in the championship and the independent rider’ s title if he could end the weekend with a gap of more than 62 points between himself and either of his challengers; Bimota’ s Alex Lowes could still secure third overall in the series and Alex’ s twin brother, Marc VDS Ducati’ s Sam Lowes, could still take the independent rider’ s crown but their chances of doing either were mathematical rather than realistic.
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