FIM Superbike, Round 2 | Pirelli Portuguese Round: Dominant weekend for Ducati and Bulega

Portimao’s Crowd Witness Ducati Dominance as Bulega Claims Historic Win

82,132 spectators flocked to Portimao for the second round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, and the Portuguese fans were treated to a weekend of exceptional performance, largely spearheaded by Ducati and rider Nicolo Bulega. The Italian’s flawless execution secured a dominant victory, etching his name into WorldSBK history while showcasing the continued strength of the manufacturer.

Bulega’s Ten-Race Streak

The weekend belonged to Nicolo Bulega, who absolutely obliterated the competition, claiming victory in Race 1 and Race 2. Starting from pole position in Race 2, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider led every single lap, demonstrating a pace that left his rivals trailing in the dust. Bulega’s victory margin of just under two seconds propelled him to a historic milestone – becoming the fourth rider in WorldSBK history to achieve ten consecutive wins.

“This has been a very good weekend and it’s a special Sunday for me. I won the Superpole Race this morning and then Race 2. We improved the bike a lot compared to yesterday and my feeling was much better today, so I’m really happy about that. We didn’t start the weekend in the best way and I had a very bad feeling with the bike so it was hard to push the way I wanted. But we worked hard with the team and never gave up. Every day we found a solution and by Sunday the bike was very, very good. I want to thanks my team for helping me improve and to be faster. I’m very proud to be part of this project. They have worked incredibly hard and they truly deserve this result.”

Lecuona and Oliveira Battle for Second

Iker Lecuona, aboard another Aruba.it Racing – Ducati machine, consistently challenged Bulega for second position throughout the weekend. He finished second in Race 2, securing a valuable points haul and highlighting the competitiveness within the Ducati stable. Miguel Oliveira, piloting the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team machine, secured a well-deserved third place in both races, demonstrating his tenacity and skill.

Key Race Moments

• Race 2: Bulega’s dominant performance set the tone, establishing a clear advantage from the outset.
• Lap 1: Iker Lecuona’s slow start dropped him to fourth position, a critical moment that ultimately shaped the race.
• Lap 4: Lecuona swiftly moved into second position, initiating a prolonged battle with Oliveira for the podium.
• Final Laps: Oliveira held firm under immense pressure from Lowes, securing a hard-fought third place.

Top 6 Finishers

• 1st – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
• 2nd – Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.967s
• 3rd – Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +7.096s
• 4th – Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +7.265s
• 5th – Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +10.079s
• 6th – Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team Goeleven) +15.105s

Championship Standings

• Nicolo Bulega: 56 points
• Iker Lecuona: 48 points
• Axel Bassani: 32 points
• Ducati: 50 points
• bimota: 30 points