Nicolo Bulega has established a new WorldSBK benchmark for victories in a single season after winning the 10-lap Superpole Race at Estoril. The Italian’s 28th win of 2026 moved him beyond Alvaro Bautista’s previous record of 27 victories, set during the 2023 season.

The result was Bulega’s second win of the Estoril weekend, following his victory in Race 1. He had started the Superpole Race from pole position after breaking the circuit lap record in Superpole the previous day. Before the start, conditions were cooler than earlier in the weekend, with an air temperature of 19C, a track temperature of 23C and fairly cloudy skies.

Bulega did not have the cleanest launch. Iker Lecuona made the holeshot and led into the opening corner, but ran wide at turn one. Bulega took over at the front, while Lecuona rejoined in second. The Ducati rider then controlled the gap, holding an advantage of approximately 1.5 seconds with two laps remaining.

Surra wins the final-lap fight for third

The closest battle at the front developed behind the leading pair. Miguel Oliveira occupied third place, but Alberto Surra gradually reduced the gap and closed to within 0.5 seconds. Surra completed the decisive move at turn three on the final lap, securing third place and his third podium in four races. Oliveira finished fourth.

Bautista was fifth, followed by Axel Bassani and Xavi Vierge. Dixon finished eighth and Lorenzo Baldassarri took ninth, the final points-paying position listed in the classification. Alex Lowes made progress to 11th during the race, although the late charge did not carry him into the top nine.

Yari Montella’s race was disrupted by an incident at turn one. He received a long-lap penalty for irresponsible riding at the start and served it while running 16th. The incident initially left him 13th, before the penalty sequence affected his position. Montella had also been involved in contact with Lorenzo Baldassarri in Race 1, where he finished eighth, and had said afterwards that he had been too cautious at the start while managing his rear tyre.

A record Bulega valued less than another win

Bulega had already taken his 27th victory in Race 1, putting Bautista’s mark within reach before Sunday’s Superpole Race. The new record followed immediately, but Bulega had indicated that the number itself was less important to him than continuing to win races. His Estoril result nevertheless gives him the outright single-season record and adds another milestone to a weekend in which he has won both completed races.

The race also confirmed the strength of the Ducati riders at the front. Oliveira had described another podium challenge as difficult because of their performance, while Surra had acknowledged that beating the factory Ducatis to victories remained out of reach but hoped to collect more podiums before the season ended. Surra’s pass turned that expectation into another top-three finish.

There were incidents elsewhere in the field. Andrea Locatelli crashed at turn seven while running 14th and appeared to be unhurt. Xavi Vierge? No—Vierge completed the race in seventh, while Chantra ran deep after appearing distracted by the incident without falling. At the front, however, Bulega’s recovery from the opening-corner reshuffle was enough to deliver the result that rewrote WorldSBK’s season-win record.