Race of Champions at World Ducati Week: Bulega takes on the MotoGP stars

At this year’s World Ducati Week (WDW), the Italian manufacturer is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The event will take place from 3 to 5 July at the Misano World Circuit – incidentally, the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours is taking place in Japan over the same weekend.

A regular feature of WDW is the Race of Champions, featuring the best riders from MotoGP, the Superbike World Championship and selected national series. A different format has been devised for 2026, modelled on a race weekend: free practice and qualifying on Saturday, a warm-up and the official race on Sunday.

The 2026 World Superbike paddock is almost entirely represented. From rising star Nicolò Bulega and his Aruba.it team-mate Iker Lecuona, to customer riders Alvaro Bautista and Yari Montalla (Barni Racing), Lorenzo Baldassarri (Go Eleven), Alberto Surra (Motocorsa), Tarran Mackenzie (MGM) and Tommy Bridewell (Advocates), the only rider missing is Sam Lowes from the MarcVDS team.

Even though it is an exhibition race, the MotoGP aces in particular – such as Marc Márquez – are likely to do everything in their power to show Bulega his limits before he makes the move up to the premier class. And the Superbike series winner, for his part, will try to command respect.

As the field is full with 18 riders, unfortunately no Supersport stars are taking part, including Phillip Öttl. The only German-speaking rider is IDM champion Lukas Tulovic.