Under the radar: Bimota rider Bassani took the maximum points at Estoril

The Superbike meeting at Estoril was yet another Ducati showcase. In all three races, the top three riders were on powerful V4R machines; in the second race, it was even the top four. The best rider on a different make was BMW’s star rider and local hero Miguel Oliveira (BMW), who finished 4th, 4th and 8th. Only slightly less successful than the Portuguese rider, but far less conspicuous, was Bimota rider Axel Bassani.

The Italian flew somewhat under the radar at the penultimate event of the season. Having qualified eighth in Superpole, however, Bassani secured solid finishes of 7th, 6th and 5th. It was a tremendous effort. “The first race was really tough because I gave 120 per cent from the first lap right to the end. I really gave it my all in every corner and every braking zone,” reported the 27-year-old from Feltre. “In the opening laps I managed to make up a few places, but as the tyres started to wear out after nine or ten laps, I found it increasingly difficult to maintain my pace. That was my limit, and I gave it my all, so I’m happy with that.”

Willkommen in Estoril

Foto: Gold & Goose

Yari Montella

Foto: Gold & Goose

Miguel Oliveira

Foto: Gold & Goose

Alberto Surra

Foto: Gold & Goose

Nicolò Bulega

Foto: Gold & Goose

Lorenzo Baldassarri

Foto: Gold & Goose

Alex Lowes

Foto: Gold & Goose

Iker Lecuona

Foto: Gold & Goose

Nicolò Bulega

Foto: Gold & Goose

Jake Dixon

Foto: Gold & Goose

Yari Montella

Foto: Gold & Goose

Miguel Oliveira

Foto: Gold & Goose

Axel Bassani

Foto: Gold & Goose

Lorenzo Baldassarri

Foto: Gold & Goose

Álvaro Bautista

Foto: Gold & Goose

Nicolò Bulega gewinnt beide Läufe in Estoril

Foto: Gold & Goose

Bulega und Lecuona

Foto: Gold & Goose

Lecuona, Bulega, Surra

Foto: Gold & Goose

Sieger Nicolò Bulega

Foto: Gold & Goose

Yari Montella

Foto: Gold & Goose

Willkommen in Estoril

© Gold & Goose

In the second race, Bassani was the best non-Ducati rider. “I got off to a really good start and was running at the front for a few laps, battling for fourth place. From halfway through the race, however, I had major problems with the rear and was sliding out a lot. That caused me to lose a few metres on the rider in front of me,” explained the Bimota rider. “Overall, I think we’ve done an incredible job with the race results at Estoril. We’ve worked hard with the whole team because we’re struggling, especially on the straights, so we have to make up for it all when braking and through the corners. We have to get the most out of everything, and that’s why I’d like to thank the team for continuing to give their all. We’ll carry on like this until the end of the season.”

Bassani is just as inconspicuous in the overall standings as he was at the penultimate round of the 2026 Superbike World Championship. With 208 World Championship points, the Italian sits in seventh place and is battling it out in Jerez with Ducati riders Sam Lowes (225 pts) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (214 pts) for fifth place.

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