SBK Misano, FP3: Sam Lowes 1st - heavy crash from Mackenzie and Vickers

World championship leader Nicolo Bulega set the tone in the two free practice sessions at Misano on Friday. He topped the combined timesheet with a 1:32.235 minutes. Aruba Ducati team-mate Iker Lecuona was 0.166 seconds behind in third place, followed by two other Ducati riders, Yari Montella and Sam Lowes, in third and fourth. The fifth fastest time was set by Axel Bassani (Bimota).

The lap record at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli was set by Bulega in 2025 with 1:31.618 min, while Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) set the fastest race lap in 2024 with a sprint time of 1:32.687 min.

The 20-minute FP3 started at 9.40am on Saturday morning. The air temperature was already 24 degrees Celsius. After four minutes, Ryan Vickers and Tarran Mackenzi had a crash in turn 2, after which the red flag was waved. Mackenzi had knocked Vickers out with his Ducati, whereupon the Honda rider lay dazed in the gravel.

Vickers was able to leave the track himself and both bikes were recovered from the gravel. The session was reopened. Things were hectic in the pits for Mackenzi and Vickers. Ducati rider Yari Montella had set the fastest time up to the cancellation with 1:33.433 minutes.

Sam Lowes (Ducati) set a new best time (1:32.464 min), Bimota rider Axel Bassani took second place, followed shortly afterwards by world championship leader Bulega with a new best time of 1:32.425 min.

The order eight minutes before the end of the session: Bulega, Sam Lowes, Baldassarri, Bassani and Surra.

Bulega improved his best time to 1'32.085 min - the fastest time so far this weekend. BMW rider Miguel Oliveira, who is making his comeback in Misano, was in 10th place at this point.

Four minutes before the end, Yari Montella took the lead with a 1:31.975 min. Bulega was only just behind with a 1'31.986. Bassani had a crash one minute before the end. He remained uninjured.

Shortly afterwards, Sam Lowes set a new best time of 1'31.929. Nobody was able to match Lowes' time.