WorldSBK · Pirelli Spanish Round

Bulega leads WorldSBK FP1 at Jerez

The 2026 champion set the pace in Friday practice, 0.252 seconds ahead of Sam Lowes, with Iker Lecuona third.

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Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) led WorldSBK Free Practice 1 at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto on Friday, 16 October 2026, during the Pirelli Spanish Round.

Bulega’s 1:38.155 put him 0.252 seconds ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). Bulega’s teammate Iker Lecuona was third, 0.334 seconds back. These were FP1 results, not a race classification.

Bulega sets the FP1 benchmark

The WorldSBK report said Bulega, identified as the 2026 champion, began the final round of the season at the top of the timesheets. He recorded his best lap during an opening 10-lap run.

Sam Lowes posted a 1:38.407 for second, while Lecuona’s 1:38.489 placed him third. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was fourth in 1:38.521.

Montella and Alex Lowes in the standings battle

Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) was fifth with a 1:38.597, and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) took sixth in 1:38.625.

According to WorldSBK, Montella was aiming to secure third in the championship standings in Race 1. Alex Lowes was the only rider who could displace him from that position, but was 53 points behind Montella at the time of the report. The FP1 order does not determine the championship outcome.

Top ten in the morning session

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) was seventh and Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) eighth. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) completed the top ten.

The session report listed Bulega, Sam Lowes, Lecuona, Montella, Surra and Alex Lowes as the top six. WorldSBK said FP2 was scheduled for 15:00 local time (UTC+2); that session was not part of the FP1 results.