AI Assisted Journalism
This article has been researched, summarized, and uniquely written by our AI editorial system based on information from MotoEtkinlik.
Misano Bulega and the Italian Ducati Show
Italian Victory in Misano!
Ducati factory rider Nicolo Bulega, who was set to write his name in gold in the first five race weeks of the 2026 Superbike World Championship, achieved a remarkable start by setting a best lap time of 1:32 or below in the two-day official sessions at the Misano Adriatico circuit. This was an incredible start for both Bulega and Ducati and a significant step towards the championship.
Detailed Analysis
The Misano Superbike test provided teams and manufacturers with the opportunity to fully prepare their motorcycles ahead of the race, between June 12-14. The heavy rainfall experienced during the winter months, which disrupted pre-season tests, further increased the importance of this test. With excitement reaching its peak during World Superbike (WSBK) races, a large portion of the grid headed south towards Italy following the event at Most, Czech Republic.
Following the first day, Bulega maintained the lead, setting a powerful lap time of 1:31.871 minutes on the second day. This lap time broke the current official race lap record of 1:32.687 minutes, achieved last year, and was just 0.245 seconds behind his own pole record of 1:31.618 set in 2023. Team-mate Iker Lecuona finished second in sixth place, having set a lap time of 1:32.182 while working on the Panigale V4R machine’s settings. The pair completed 109 and 163 laps respectively during the test, gathering valuable data on their motorcycles.
New Fork Pivot Tested
The final practice session at the Misano World Circuit began quite slowly. Only a small number of riders took to the track in the first hour, and by the halfway point of the session, only 14 riders had completed fast laps. Ducati rider Iker Lecuona set the first significant lap time of the day with a time of 1:32.676 minutes. Honda rider Somkiat Chantra then took second place with a best lap time of 1:33.345 on this track.
Third Place in the Class: Montella
Third in the class was Yari Montella, just as he did on the first day and in the three races at the Most weekend. Barni Spark Racing Team announced a new partnership with Suter Industries to further develop the new twin-sided Ducati rear pivot on Wednesday of the test. Team-mate Alvaro Bautista, who underwent surgery earlier in the week, was sidelined from the team, allowing Montella to test this new twin-sided rear pivot produced by Suter. Successfully completing his laps, Montella finished the first day with a time of 1:32.444 and again finished third on the second day with a time of 1:32.282 (0.513 seconds behind Bulega) and completed 157 laps.
New Twin-Sided Rear Pivot – Barni Spark Racing Team
We were able to see the results of the manufacturers’ work in Misano.
Surprise Results
As the session progressed, traffic began to increase on the race track. The good weather allowed teams to conduct uninterrupted testing. Behind the Ducati V4 R’s dominant performance in the top 5, Axel Bassani (1:32.430) and Alex Lowes (with his Bimota KB998 Rimini motorcycle) finished sixth and seventh, respectively, riding for the Kawasaki Racing Team. The Australian duo, who had been longing for a podium since the opening round in Australia, covered 172 and 160 laps respectively, seeking better settings. They were followed by Lorenzo Baldassarri (214 laps total) and Tarran Mackenzie on his Ducati. Yamaha rider Remy Gardner’s Yamaha R1 (1:32.561 and 176 laps) took the top spot as the fastest Yamaha representative for the two days.
Yamaha’s Challenging Start
Yamaha had a challenging start to the 2026 season, but they came close to the top five in the final rounds. Andrea Locatelli returned to his best form, and teammate Xavi Vierge quickly adapted to the R1, bringing the motorcycle to ninth place with a best lap time of 1:33.059 in the final session. Yamaha Motor Europe Motorsport Director Niccolo Canepa stated that the team would fully utilize its package in the second half of the season to achieve gains.
Honda HRC’s Big Movement
Honda HRC saw a big movement and return from injury. Following a crash at the Official Test at Phillip Island where he broke his wrist on the CBR1000RR-R, Dixon returned to the bike for the first time since his injury. Dixon finished 17th in the first day (1:33.941) and completed 50 and 37 laps on the second day. The fastest Honda pilot in the overall test was Somkiat Chantra, who set a best lap time of 1:33.345 and completed a remarkable 224 laps in two days, becoming a major surprise. Jonathan Rea, Honda HRC test team rider, also worked with Dixon’s time, finishing 16th with a time of 1:33.119. The pair completed a total of 367 laps (van der Mark alone 200 laps).
Supersport Pilot Öttl’s Prototypes Tested
Meanwhile, Supersport pilot Philipp Öttl took the Ducati V2-prototype for its first test during the sessions. The first ride did not go beyond a functional test; the 30-year-old pilot achieved a lap time of 1:39.548, aiming for a faster three-second lap than the current model.
Yorumlar (0)
Bu tartışmaya katılmak için giriş yapmalısın.
Henüz yorum yapılmamış. İlk yorumu sen yap!