Bulega signs off with Jerez Race 2 victory
Late rain added pressure as Sam Lowes passed Alvaro Bautista on the final lap to claim third.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) won WorldSBK Race 2 at Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto on Sunday, 18 October 2026, finishing ahead of teammate Iker Lecuona.
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) passed Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) on the final lap to take third. The race was affected by rain in its closing stages.
Bulega takes his 52nd WorldSBK win
Lecuona led into Turn 1, but Bulega retook first place at Turn 6 on the opening lap. Bautista moved from sixth on the grid into a provisional podium position and had to defend from Lowes in the early part of the 20-lap race.
Bulega went on to record his 52nd victory in the class, drawing level with Troy Bayliss on the all-time wins list, according to WorldSBK. The series report described it as Bulega’s farewell race in the championship and identified him as the final Pirelli race winner before the tyre supplier’s departure.
Lowes wins the late fight for third
As rain began to fall in the final quarter of the race, Lowes closed on Bautista. The contest for third was decided on the last lap, when Lowes made his move at Turn 5 and held the position after Bautista ran wide at Turn 6.
Bautista finished fourth and beat Barni Spark Racing Team teammate Yari Montella, who was fifth. WorldSBK reported that the result gave Lecuona his 34th WorldSBK podium and Lowes his 17th.
Newsroom
The race report was published by WorldSBK on 18 October 2026. The supplied report excerpt does not provide championship standings or points.
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Sources
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WorldSBK
Official source · 18/10/2026 14:42
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