WorldSBK 2026
Round Nine – Magny-Cours – Saturday
Saturday at Magny-Cours produced three very different winners across the WorldSBK programme. Nicolo Bulega continued his near-perfect Superbike campaign, Can Oncu charged from the fifth row to win a WorldSSP thriller, and Fenton Seabright was awarded his maiden WorldSPB victory after David Salvador was penalised following a frantic final lap.
Bulega stretches Superpole streak to 10
Bulega began Saturday by leading FP3 with a 1m34.987 before producing a record-breaking lap in Tissot Superpole.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider stopped the clock at 1m34.318, slicing 0.612 seconds from Toprak Razgatlioglu’s previous Magny-Cours record. It was Bulega’s ninth pole of 2026, the 18th of his career and his tenth in succession across two seasons, extending the all-time WorldSBK streak he established at Donington Park.
Bulega also secured the 2026 Tissot Superpole Award, while the leading four riders all went beneath the previous lap record.
Sam Lowes qualified second, 0.168 seconds from pole, with Iker Lecuona completing the front row. Yari Montella was fourth ahead of Alberto Surra, leaving Ducati Panigale V4 R machinery filling the first five places. Alex Lowes was the leading rider on another brand in sixth aboard the bimota KB998 Rimini.
Tommy Bridewell and Lorenzo Baldassarri both crashed during their final qualifying runs but had already set the seventh and eighth-fastest times. A separate yellow-flag infringement subsequently sent Bridewell to the rear of the Race 1 grid.
Red flag divides Race 1
The scheduled 21-lap race was stopped after nine completed laps following a heavy Turn 14 crash for Bridewell, which damaged the air fence approaching the final chicane. Bridewell was taken to the medical centre but was subsequently declared fit.
Bulega had taken the holeshot at the original start, but Lecuona attacked at the Adelaide hairpin and led the opening lap. Bulega reclaimed first at the same corner on lap three, although Lecuona remained within half a second when the red flags appeared.
Sam and Alex Lowes also exchanged places during the opening laps. Alex briefly moved into third before Sam responded, leaving the brothers running third and fourth when the race was stopped.
A quick-start procedure produced a new 12-lap race, with full championship points still available. Lecuona again attacked immediately and led the opening lap, but Bulega reclaimed first under brakes at Turn 5 on lap two.
The Ducati team-mates ran side by side through the following change of direction, allowing Sam Lowes to challenge Lecuona at Turn 8. Lecuona held second, but the delay gave Bulega the breathing space he needed.
Bulega set a new race lap record of 1m35.030 on lap three and steadily extended his advantage, eventually beating Lecuona by 3.118 seconds. The victory was Bulega’s 24th from 25 races this season and his 44th in WorldSBK, moving him ahead of Noriyuki Haga into sixth on the championship’s all-time winners list.
Nicolo Bulega: “It’s fantastic to win after the long summer break. I’ve really missed this feeling. Restarts are always difficult.”
Lecuona believed the red flag arrived just as the balance was beginning to swing towards him on worn tyres, but his second-place finish was enough to ensure the championship could not be decided at Magny-Cours.
Bulega now leads Lecuona by 138 points, 516 to 378, meaning his first opportunity to seal the 2026 crown will come at Cremona. Lecuona’s result was his 20th second place of the season, equalling the WorldSBK record set by Razgatlioglu in 2023.
Sam Lowes finished another 3.175 seconds behind Lecuona to complete the podium and Ducati’s 15th consecutive WorldSBK podium lockout.
Sam Lowes: “I feel like I’m the third fastest at the minute. I think I can get a bit closer in the Superpole Race.”
Montella wins the battle for fourth
Montella emerged on top of the contest behind the leading three. Alex Lowes initially held fourth in the restarted race, but Montella applied steady pressure before gaining the position when the Bimota rider ran wide through the Imola chicane on lap six.
Montella crossed the line fourth, only 0.647 seconds ahead of Lowes. The result ended Montella’s run of six consecutive podiums but kept him third in the championship on 224 points.
Sam and Alex Lowes are now tied for fourth in the standings on 193 points, 31 behind Montella.
Baldassarri delivered one of the more remarkable rides of the afternoon. The Team GoEleven rider crashed at Turn 13 during the warm-up lap for the restart but managed to remount and reach the grid. Despite racing with a damaged Ducati and without his right footrest, Baldassarri finished sixth.
Axel Bassani transformed his Saturday after struggling in Superpole. Initially 16th on the Race 1 grid following Bridewell’s penalty, Bassani had climbed to ninth before the stoppage and continued his progress after the restart to finish seventh.
Surra took eighth ahead of Garrett Gerloff and Xavi Vierge. Gerloff had charged from 11th to sixth on the opening lap of the original start, but a set-up change made during the stoppage did not deliver the improvement his Kawasaki squad expected and he slipped to ninth.
Gardner and Manzi among six retirements
Remy Gardner again had a potentially strong Superpole lap cancelled under yellow flags. He was classified 13th in qualifying and moved to 12th on the original Race 1 grid following Bridewell’s penalty.
The Australian made a strong start and showed encouraging early pace, but contact with Vierge at the Adelaide hairpin forced him off the circuit and ended his race before the red flag.
Remy Gardner: “In Race 1, our pace was good, but unfortunately another rider made contact with me and I was forced off track.”
GYTR GRT Yamaha team-mate Stefano Manzi also retired after crashing at the final chicane. Miguel Oliveira fell at Turn 8, Mattia Rato crashed in the opening sector and Chantra was forced into the pits by an electrical problem shortly after the original start.
Jake Dixon recovered from a difficult restart to score his first points of the season in 11th. The Honda rider passed Andrea Locatelli on the final lap, leaving the Yamaha man 12th ahead of Danilo Petrucci.
Alvaro Bautista crashed at Turn 15 on lap three of the restart but remounted and completed the classification in 14th.
WorldSBK Race One Results
 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
Speed
|
|
1
|
N. Bulega
|
Duc
|
16m26.38
|
296.7
|
|
2
|
I. Lecuona
|
Duc
|
+3.118
|
298.3
|
|
3
|
S. Lowes
|
Duc
|
+6.293
|
291.9
|
|
4
|
Y. Montella
|
Duc
|
+8.786
|
294.3
|
|
5
|
A. Lowes
|
Bim
|
+9.433
|
295.9
|
|
6
|
L. Baldassarri
|
Duc
|
+10.050
|
293.5
|
|
7
|
A. Bassani
|
Bim
|
+12.595
|
289.5
|
|
8
|
A. Surra
|
Duc
|
+13.843
|
292.7
|
|
9
|
G. Gerloff
|
Kaw
|
+15.233
|
297.5
|
|
10
|
X. Vierge
|
Yam
|
+16.295
|
290.3
|
|
11
|
J. Dixon
|
Hon
|
+16.738
|
295.1
|
|
12
|
A. Locatelli
|
Yam
|
+17.325
|
292.7
|
|
13
|
D. Petrucci
|
BMW
|
+24.031
|
292.7
|
|
14
|
A. Bautista
|
Duc
|
+1m09.462
|
288.0
|
| Not Classified | ||||
|
DNF
|
T. Bridewell
|
Duc
|
DNF
|
296.7
|
|
DNF
|
S. Manzi
|
Yam
|
DNF
|
295.1
|
|
DNF
|
R. Gardner
|
Yam
|
DNF
|
291.9
|
|
DNF
|
M. Rato
|
Yam
|
DNF
|
295.9
|
|
DNF
|
M. Oliveira
|
BMW
|
DNF
|
296.7
|
|
DNF
|
S. Chantra
|
Hon
|
DNF
|
300.8
|
WorldSBK Superpole Times
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
Max
|
|
1
|
N. Bulega
|
Duc
|
1m34.318
|
297.5
|
|
2
|
S. Lowes
|
Duc
|
+0.168
|
295.1
|
|
3
|
I. Lecuona
|
Duc
|
+0.278
|
298.3
|
|
4
|
Y. Montella
|
Duc
|
+0.554
|
292.7
|
|
5
|
A. Surra
|
Duc
|
+0.823
|
295.9
|
|
6
|
A. Lowes
|
Bim
|
+0.906
|
295.1
|
|
7
|
T. Bridewell
|
Duc
|
+0.907
|
296.7
|
|
8
|
L. Baldassarri
|
Duc
|
+0.963
|
294.3
|
|
9
|
X. Vierge
|
Yam
|
+1.131
|
298.3
|
|
10
|
J. Dixon
|
Hon
|
+1.142
|
294.3
|
|
11
|
A. Locatelli
|
Yam
|
+1.151
|
295.1
|
|
12
|
G. Gerloff
|
Kaw
|
+1.205
|
300.0
|
|
13
|
R. Gardner
|
Yam
|
+1.236
|
291.9
|
|
14
|
A. Bautista
|
Duc
|
+1.283
|
291.9
|
|
15
|
S. Manzi
|
Yam
|
+1.357
|
295.1
|
|
16
|
S. Chantra
|
Hon
|
+1.478
|
300.8
|
|
17
|
A. Bassani
|
Bim
|
+1.490
|
296.7
|
|
18
|
D. Petrucci
|
BMW
|
+1.635
|
298.3
|
|
19
|
M. Oliveira
|
BMW
|
+1.762
|
296.7
|
|
20
|
M. Rato
|
Yam
|
+1.783
|
295.9
|
WorldSSP Race One
Oncu charges from 13th to victory
Can Oncu came through from the fifth row of the grid to claim his first WorldSSP victory of 2026 following a race-long battle with Roberto Garcia.
Lucas Mahias launched from third to take the holeshot, while pole-sitter Valentin Debise made an error at the Adelaide hairpin on the opening lap and fell as low as tenth.
Oncu had started only 13th after a technical problem interrupted his Friday Superpole session, but the Turkish rider wasted little time cutting through the field. He reached the lead on lap five and became locked in an increasingly tense contest with Garcia during the second half of the 19-lap race.
The lead changed hands repeatedly. Garcia headed lap 11 before Oncu reclaimed the position, then moved back in front for laps 17 and 18. Oncu responded on the final lap and held Garcia off by only 0.107 seconds at the chequered flag.
It was Oncu’s first victory with Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing and made him the seventh different WorldSSP winner of the season. Garcia’s second place was his best WorldSSP result and completed a Yamaha one-two.
Can Oncu: “During the race, I was just trying to stay relaxed because normally I’m too excited. Hard work pays off.”
Debise recovers to home podium
Debise recovered strongly from his opening-lap mistake and returned to the leading group. His progress included a close encounter with Jorge Navarro at the exit of the Adelaide hairpin, after which Navarro received a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding.
The Frenchman eventually passed Mahias for third and crossed the line only 0.392 seconds behind Oncu, giving the home crowd a French rider on the podium. Mahias had to settle for fourth, with Federico Caricasulo fifth on the second ZXMOTO.
Josh Whatley climbed from 12th on the grid to claim a career-best sixth and finish as the leading Ducati rider. Navarro recovered from his penalty to place seventh ahead of Aldi Mahendra, who had started 16th.
Filippo Farioli finished ninth after receiving a three-second penalty for course cutting, while Jaume Masia recovered from 17th on the grid to complete the top ten.
Arenas crash reshapes title contest
Championship leader Albert Arenas was eliminated on lap three after becoming entangled with Jeremy Alcoba at Turn 5. Arenas was taken to the medical centre with a right-hand contusion and was scheduled to undergo another assessment before Sunday’s action.
Alcoba was able to rejoin and eventually finished 15th, but Arenas’s retirement allowed each of his principal rivals to reduce the championship deficit.
Arenas retains the lead on 291 points, with Debise now 66 points behind. Oncu moved into third on 203 points, two ahead of Masia.
Tom Booth-Amos finished only 25th after contact with Mattia Casadei at Turn 5, but his 1m39.868 was the fastest lap of the race and established a new WorldSSP race record.
That lap puts Booth-Amos on pole for Sunday’s Race 2. Mahendra and Navarro will join him on the front row, while Farioli, Debise and Race 1 winner Oncu make up row two.
WorldSSP Race One Results
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
Speed
|
|
1
|
C. Oncu
|
Yam
|
31m53.046
|
269.3
|
|
2
|
R. Garcia
|
Yam
|
+0.107
|
263.4
|
|
3
|
V. Debise
|
Zxm
|
+0.392
|
265.4
|
|
4
|
L. Mahias
|
Yam
|
+2.910
|
266.0
|
|
5
|
F. Caricasulo
|
Zxm
|
+4.519
|
268.7
|
|
6
|
J. Whatley
|
Duc
|
+5.773
|
268.7
|
|
7
|
J. Navarro
|
Tri
|
+6.613
|
270.7
|
|
8
|
A. Mahendra
|
Yam
|
+7.133
|
267.3
|
|
9
|
F. Farioli
|
Yam
|
+8.323
|
266.7
|
|
10
|
J. Masia
|
Duc
|
+10.791
|
270.7
|
|
11
|
M. Ferrari
|
Duc
|
+11.082
|
269.3
|
|
12
|
B. Jimenez
|
Duc
|
+12.257
|
270.0
|
|
13
|
Y. Okamoto
|
Yam
|
+16.852
|
266.7
|
|
14
|
S. Jespersen
|
Duc
|
+17.082
|
265.4
|
|
15
|
J. Alcoba
|
Kaw
|
+17.659
|
267.3
|
|
16
|
O. Vostatek
|
Tri
|
+17.970
|
265.4
|
|
17
|
D. Aegerter
|
Kaw
|
+19.140
|
268.0
|
|
18
|
O. Konig
|
Tri
|
+23.334
|
267.3
|
|
19
|
A. Zaccone
|
Duc
|
+24.141
|
270.7
|
|
20
|
L. Taccini
|
Duc
|
+28.559
|
270.0
|
|
21
|
M. Ramirez
|
Qjm
|
+37.644
|
266.7
|
|
22
|
M. Gines
|
Yam
|
+40.611
|
266.7
|
|
23
|
A. Giombini
|
Mva
|
+44.517
|
265.4
|
|
24
|
A. Kofler
|
Yam
|
+44.890
|
260.9
|
|
25
|
T. Booth-Amos
|
Tri
|
+49.580
|
271.4
|
|
26
|
A. Carrasco
|
Hon
|
+49.667
|
263.4
|
|
27
|
S. Di Sora
|
Mva
|
+1’03.909
|
253.5
|
|
28
|
P. Oettl
|
Duc
|
+1 Lap
|
267.3
|
|
29
|
C. Perolari
|
Hon
|
+1 Lap
|
264.1
|
|
30
|
M. Casadei
|
Duc
|
+2 Laps
|
270.7
|
| Not Classified | ||||
|
DNF
|
R. De Rosa
|
Qjm
|
+5 Laps
|
264.1
|
|
DNF
|
H. Garzo
|
Duc
|
+16 Laps
|
263.4
|
|
DNF
|
A. Arenas
|
Yam
|
+17 Laps
|
268.7
|
WorldSPB Race One
Seabright awarded maiden WorldSPB victory
Fenton Seabright claimed his first World Championship victory following a dramatic conclusion to the opening WorldSPB race at Magny-Cours.
Pole-sitter David Salvador took the holeshot and remained at the centre of a compact lead battle involving Seabright, Antonio Torres, Xavi Artigas and Loris Veneman. Nine riders were separated by around one-and-a-half seconds after four laps, with Salvador ultimately leading seven of the 11 laps and Seabright heading four.
The fight remained unresolved as the leaders entered the final sector for the last time. Salvador attacked Seabright at Turn 13, Seabright replied at Turn 14 and Salvador regained the advantage at Turn 15.
Salvador crossed the finish line 0.137 seconds ahead, but he had exceeded track limits at Turn 17 on the final lap. A 0.2-second penalty reversed the order and made Seabright the official winner by 0.063 seconds.
The result rewarded a determined ride from fifth on the grid and delivered Seabright’s first victory at World Championship level.
Fenton Seabright: “We’ve been hunting for this win all year and we knew it was at our fingertips. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Salvador retained second ahead of Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI team-mate Torres. Artigas finished fourth, Veneman fifth and Ferre Fleerackers completed the top six.
Despite missing the win, Salvador extended his championship lead to 38 points over Torres, with Artigas another four points behind in third.
Thompson secures Sunday front-row start
Australian Carter Thompson remained with the leading group throughout the race after launching from sixth on the grid.
The Team BrCorse rider was instructed to surrender one position following an irresponsible-riding incident at Turn 13 on lap eight. He complied with the instruction but later lost another place to Fleerackers and finished seventh, 1.790 seconds from the winner.
Thompson nevertheless secured a valuable prize for Sunday. His 1m45.797 was the third-fastest race lap and places him on the front row for Race 2.
Seabright will start Sunday’s race from pole after setting a new WorldSPB race lap record of 1m45.425. Thompson’s Team BrCorse team-mate Marco Gaggi will start second, with the Australian completing the front row.
Salvador will start from eighth on row three, while Torres, Artigas and Veneman will line up together on row four.
WorldSPB Race One Results
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
Speed
|
|
1
|
F. Seabright
|
Tri
|
19m29.847
|
232.8
|
|
2
|
D. Salvador
|
Kaw
|
+0.063
|
229.8
|
|
3
|
A. Torres
|
Kaw
|
+0.137
|
231.8
|
|
4
|
X. Artigas
|
Kaw
|
+0.341
|
232.3
|
|
5
|
L. Veneman
|
Kaw
|
+0.804
|
235.3
|
|
6
|
F. Fleerackers
|
Suz
|
+1.608
|
233.8
|
|
7
|
C. Thompson
|
Yam
|
+1.790
|
234.3
|
|
8
|
H. Dessoy
|
Tri
|
+2.044
|
238.4
|
|
9
|
A. Fuertes
|
Kaw
|
+2.150
|
232.8
|
|
10
|
J. Osuna
|
Kaw
|
+2.472
|
233.8
|
|
11
|
M. Vannucci
|
Apr
|
+2.843
|
236.8
|
|
12
|
M. Gaggi
|
Yam
|
+3.090
|
236.3
|
|
13
|
J. Risueno
|
Kaw
|
+4.120
|
233.3
|
|
14
|
B. Ieraci
|
Tri
|
+4.410
|
237.4
|
|
15
|
B. Fernandez
|
Kov
|
+4.591
|
236.3
|
|
16
|
J. van Crugten
|
Apr
|
+4.781
|
237.4
|
|
17
|
K. Beekmans
|
Suz
|
+8.028
|
233.3
|
|
18
|
J. Correa
|
Kaw
|
+8.674
|
234.8
|
|
19
|
T. Aksu
|
Hon
|
+11.006
|
235.8
|
|
20
|
B. Perrin
|
Yam
|
+12.431
|
234.3
|
|
21
|
F. Mulya
|
Yam
|
+13.047
|
235.8
|
|
22
|
M. Gennai
|
Yam
|
+13.498
|
231.3
|
|
23
|
T. Benetti
|
Apr
|
+13.600
|
231.8
|
|
24
|
A. Di Persio
|
Yam
|
+19.095
|
233.8
|
|
25
|
G. Sanchez
|
Yam
|
+19.391
|
231.8
|
|
26
|
G. Cazard
|
Yam
|
+20.080
|
229.3
|
|
27
|
E. Bartolini
|
Tri
|
+24.254
|
233.3
|
|
28
|
M. Vich
|
Suz
|
+24.611
|
233.3
|
|
29
|
H. De Cancellis
|
Kov
|
+24.864
|
231.3
|
|
30
|
M. Sorrenti
|
Apr
|
+25.464
|
232.8
|
|
31
|
T. Sovicka
|
Yam
|
+26.974
|
228.8
|
| Not Classified | ||||
|
DNF
|
H. Maier
|
Yam
|
+3 Laps
|
229.8
|
|
DNF
|
A. Mizera
|
Yam
|
+3 Laps
|
233.8
|
|
DNS
|
T. Alonso
|
Yam
|
220.4
|
|
2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship calendar
|
|||||
|
Date.
|
Country
|
Circuit
|
WorldSBK
|
WorldSSP
|
WorldSPB
|
|
20-22 Feb
|
AUS
|
Phillip Island GP
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
27-29 Mar
|
POR
|
Portimao
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
17-19 Apr
|
NED
|
TT Assen
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
1-3 May
|
HUN
|
Balaton Park
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
15-17 May
|
CZE
|
Most
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
29-31 May
|
ESP
|
MotorLand Aragon
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
12-14 Jun
|
ITA
|
Misano – Marco Simoncelli
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
10-12 Jul
|
UK
|
Donington Park
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
4-6 Sep
|
FRA
|
Nevers Magny-Cours
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
25-27 Sep
|
ITA
|
Cremona
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
9-11 Oct
|
POR
|
Estoril
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
16-18 Oct
|
ESP
|
Jerez – Angel Nieto*
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
2026 World Superbike Championship Entry List
|
||
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Team
|
|
I.Lecuona
|
Duc
|
Aruba.It Ducati
|
|
N.Bulega
|
Duc
|
Aruba.It Ducati
|
|
D.Petrucci
|
BMW
|
ROKiT BMW Motorrad
|
|
M.Oliveira
|
BMW
|
ROKiT BMW Motorrad
|
|
A.Locatelli
|
Yam
|
Pata Maxus Yamaha
|
|
X.Vierge
|
Yam
|
Pata Maxus Yamaha
|
|
Y.Montella
|
Duc
|
Barni Spark
|
|
A.Bautista
|
Duc
|
Barni Spark
|
|
A.Lowes
|
Bim
|
bimota by Kawasaki
|
|
A.Bassani
|
Bim
|
bimota by Kawasaki
|
|
S.Chantra
|
Hon
|
Honda HRC
|
|
J.Dixon
|
Hon
|
Honda HRC
|
|
S.Manzi
|
Yam
|
GYTR GRT Yamaha
|
|
R.Gardner
|
Yam
|
GYTR GRT Yamaha
|
|
S.Lowes
|
Duc
|
ELF Marc VDS
|
|
L.Baldassarri
|
Duc
|
Goeleven
|
|
T.Mackenzie
|
Duc
|
MGM Racing
|
|
G.Gerloff
|
Kaw
|
Kawasaki WorldSBK
|
|
A.Surra
|
Duc
|
Motocorsa
|
|
M.Rato
|
Yam
|
Motoxracing
|
|
B.Sofuoglu
|
Yam
|
Motoxracing
|
|
A.Iannone
|
Duc
|
Cainam Racing
|
