The 2026 WorldSBK season concludes at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto with all three titles already decided. There is still a meaningful championship battle behind them: Yari Montella has secured the independent riders’ crown, but third place in the overall standings is not yet mathematically guaranteed. The Barni Ducati rider holds a 53-point advantage over Alex Lowes and therefore arrives in a strong position to claim the championship’s final podium place. Friday’s programme begins with FP1 at 10:35 local time, followed by FP2 at 15:00.

Bulega returns to one of his strongest circuits

Nicolo Bulega heads to Andalusia after a complete Estoril sweep, and Jerez offers another setting in which his record is difficult to ignore. He won races at the circuit in 2024, then took all three victories there in 2025. He also claimed last year’s pole position by more than half a second over Toprak Razgatlioglu.

This weekend carries an additional significance for Bulega because it is his final WorldSBK round and his last one with Aruba.it Ducati. He has described the occasion as especially emotional. His first WorldSSP test came at Jerez in November 2021, and the current visit closes what he describes as a five-year cycle with the team. He will also turn 27 on the day of Friday practice.

Surra brings momentum as Lecuona faces Jerez challenge

The satellite Ducati contest adds another layer to the final round. Alberto Surra has produced the strongest recent run among those riders, scoring four podiums in the last five races and finishing on the podium in all three Estoril races. His pace will provide a useful comparison with Montella, while Miguel Oliveira also entered the podium fight in Estoril, at least in Race 1.

Iker Lecuona approaches the circuit from a very different position. He says Jerez has traditionally been difficult for him and that he has suffered several injuries there. He recalled a first major crash at turn 12 that injured his arm, collarbone and a vertebra, another incident at the same turn in which he broke his hand, and a crash at turn 6 that resulted in a broken foot. Lecuona has not ruled out beating Bulega, but expects the task to be harder at Jerez than it was at Estoril. Friday practice therefore opens with two sharply contrasting storylines: Bulega arrives at a circuit where he has repeatedly excelled, while his team-mate must overcome an unusually difficult personal history there.