Misano, Race 1: Ducati party at Bulega's victory, BMW applause for Oliveira

Nicolò Bulega has never celebrated a victory in the Superbike category at the Misano World Circuit, and Ducati is also eagerly awaiting its next win at its home race - BMW and Toprak Razgatlioglu triumphed in all races in 2024 and 2025!

For the seventh time in the 2026 World Superbike Championship, Bulega took pole position on Saturday morning and after 18 wins in 18 races this season, the Italian was the favourite anyway. His Ducati team-mate Iker Lecuona and Bimota figurehead Alex Lowes completed the front row for the first race in Misano.

Axel Bassani (Bimota) and Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha), who both completed their 200th Superbike race in the first round, started the race in seventh and eighth place respectively. The best BMW rider was Miguel Oliveira in 11th position.

The weather at the start of the race at 3.30 pm was almost too nice at 30 degrees Celsius, especially as the tarmac was approaching a critical mark at 53 degrees Celsius. 21 laps had to be completed in these hot conditions.

Lecuona took the lead in the chicane after the start, but Bulega took the lead in turn 4. He was followed by Yari Montella, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Alex Lowes and Bassani. Oliveira held on to tenth place. After the first lap, a quartet of Ducati riders led ahead of two Bimota and two other Ducati. Locatelli and Oliveira battled for 9th place, while Honda works rider Somkiat Chantra was 20th.

Bulega set the fastest race lap in 1:32.566 minutes and slowly pulled away from Lecuona. Third-placed Montella was already 2 seconds behind after four laps. Meanwhile, Dixon's replacement Ryan Vickers (Honda) was chasing the field after a crash.

Then it all came thick and fast: Turn 5 of the fifth lap brought the end for Baldassarri. One lap and one corner later, Sam Lowes lay in the gravel.

After the first third of the race, Bulega had pulled 1.9 seconds clear of Lecuona. The Spaniard in turn had a cushion of 3 seconds on Montella. A further three seconds behind the Ducati privateer, Bimota riders Bassani and Lowes were battling for fourth place, while the wide midfield was more entertaining, with only six seconds separating Alberto Surra (6th) and Tommy Bridewell (14th).

The podium places were decided at half-time

At the halfway point, Lecuona's gap had increased to almost four seconds. The 26-year-old had had to ride a wide line, which alone cost him a second. Bassani had prevailed over his team-mate in 4th place. Locatelli and Oliveira continued to fight for 7th place, but at the same time got closer to Surra in 6th position.

While the positions in the top five were settled, it was worth taking a look at positions 9 to 12, where Stefano Manzi (Yamaha), Álvaro Bautista (Ducati), Remy Gardner (Yamaha) and Tarran Mackenzie (Ducati) fought spirited battles for position.

Bulega went into the final third of the race with a reassuring 4.8 sec lead over Lecuona and 9.6 sec over Montella. Only a defect or crash could thwart the Italian's first Misano victory. That's exactly what happened: Bulega crossed the finish line celebrating his first Misano victory in the Superbike category. Lecuona (2nd) and Montella flanked the world championship leader on the podium.

The best non-Ducati rider was Axel Bassani (Bimota) in fourth place. Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) finished seventh, keeping the valiantly fighting Miguel Oliveira (BMW) at bay until the end. Eighth place is a remarkable result for the Portuguese rider, who is far from fit.

Garrett Gerloff once again spoilt a Superbike weekend with a crash in Superpole. The Texan with the only Kawasaki started last and finished 14th, also favoured by retirements.

Michael van der Mark was unlucky, having to park his BMW with a defect three laps before the end. Almost at the same time, Remy Gardner crashed his Yamaha into the gravel.