WorldSBK 2026
Round Nine – Magny-Cours – Friday
WorldSBK’s long summer pause did nothing to blunt Nicolo Bulega’s momentum. The championship leader returned to the top of the timesheets at Magny-Cours, heading both Friday sessions and setting the combined benchmark in FP1 as round nine of the 2026 season got underway.
Bulega arrived in France with 23 wins from the opening 24 races and 491 of the 496 points available so far. He leads Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team-mate Iker Lecuona by 133 points and can mathematically seal the title on Sunday, although he would need to outscore the Spaniard by 53 points across the weekend. Ten points for Lecuona would ensure the contest continues to Cremona.
Bulega sets the Friday benchmark
An electrical issue forced Bulega to tour back to pit lane during the opening minutes of FP1, but his crew quickly rectified the problem. The red flag caused by Bahattin Sofuoglu’s first crash of the day also limited the amount of track time Bulega lost relative to his rivals.
Once running properly, the #11 Ducati set a 1m35.556 to lead Sam Lowes by 0.284 seconds and Lecuona by 0.433. Bulega again topped FP2 with a 1m35.916, but track temperature had climbed to 45 degrees Celsius and most of the field was unable to improve on the morning’s pace.
Despite leading the day, Bulega was far from satisfied with the feel of his Panigale V4 R and described it as too physical around Magny-Cours.
Nicolo Bulega: “The feeling was not the best today and I want to improve in some areas because I feel that I can go faster.”
Sam Lowes retained second overall with his FP1 time of 1m35.840. Lecuona completed the top three despite losing the front at the Imola chicane early in FP2. The Spaniard returned to the pits, where his crew repaired the bike in time for him to rejoin the session.
Lecuona had begun experimenting with a different set-up base, incorporating ideas gathered during his two MotoGP substitute appearances with Gresini Ducati at Balaton Park and Silverstone. He saw positives in the changes but said further work was required to find the final tenths needed to challenge Bulega.
Vierge interrupts a Ducati-dominated top seven
Xavi Vierge was the only rider on something other than a Ducati inside the top seven. A late lap on a fresh SCX tyre in FP1 carried the Pata Maxus Yamaha rider to fourth overall, 0.479 seconds from Bulega and just six-thousandths clear of Yari Montella.
Montella was one of the riders to make progress in the hotter afternoon conditions. The Barni Ducati rider went second in FP2, just 0.125 seconds from Bulega in that session, after also completing useful long-run work. He ended the day fifth on combined times.
Lorenzo Baldassarri produced Team GoEleven’s strongest Friday of the season. His 1m36.145 in FP2 was set on tyres that had already completed 16 laps and placed him fourth in the session and sixth overall. Alberto Surra marked his return from a shoulder injury with seventh, putting five Ducatis inside the top seven.
Gardner 14th but only a second from the top
Remy Gardner finished Friday 14th on the combined order with a 1m36.558, only 1.002 seconds from Bulega. The Australian had initially gone seventh in FP1 with a 1m36.446, a time that would have put him inside the combined top ten, but the lap was cancelled for exceeding track limits.
Gardner switched his attention to race-distance work in FP2 and finished immediately behind GYTR GRT Yamaha team-mate Stefano Manzi, with only four-thousandths separating the pair.
Remy Gardner: “Unfortunately, our lap time from the morning was cancelled due to track limits. That would have put us in the top 10 on the combined timesheets.”
The competitiveness of the field was underlined by the top 18 riders being covered by just 1.178 seconds. Newly re-signed BMW rider Miguel Oliveira was eighth, ahead of Garrett Gerloff, while Alex Lowes completed the top ten after logging 41 laps on the bimota KB998 Rimini and concentrating on a long run in FP2. Jake Dixon followed in 11th, with Danilo Petrucci 12th.
BMW future takes shape as Yamaha reshuffles
BMW confirmed before the round that Oliveira will remain with the German manufacturer for 2027 and beyond. Petrucci, meanwhile, revealed that he and BMW had mutually decided not to continue together in WorldSBK next season, although both parties remain open to working together in another role or championship.
Vierge said there were several options on the table for 2027 and confirmed he expects to remain in the WorldSBK paddock. Alvaro Bautista, who finished Friday 17th after completing FP2 on one set of tyres, said he wants to continue racing but is yet to secure a deal that he believes will allow him to be competitive.
Andrea Locatelli endured a difficult first day with new crew chief Emanuele Martinelli. A technical problem restricted the Yamaha rider to five flying laps in FP2 and left him 20th overall. Martinelli has replaced Giulio Nava for the final four rounds, with Nava moving into a performance-analysis role spanning the Pata Maxus Yamaha and GYTR GRT Yamaha squads.
Sofuoglu’s second crash of the day, again at the opening complex, brought his weekend to a premature end. The Motoxracing Yamaha rider was diagnosed with concussion and ruled unfit for the remaining sessions. Somkiat Chantra also fell at Turn 3 late in FP2 but escaped injury, while Tarran Mackenzie did not take part after he was not cleared at his pre-round medical examination as he continues to recover from the injuries sustained at Donington Park.
WorldSBK Combined FP1/FP2 Results
 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
|
1
|
N. Bulega
|
Duc
|
1m35.556
|
|
2
|
S. Lowes
|
Duc
|
+0.284
|
|
3
|
I. Lecuona
|
Duc
|
+0.433
|
|
4
|
X. Vierge
|
Yam
|
+0.479
|
|
5
|
Y. Montella
|
Duc
|
+0.485
|
|
6
|
L. Baldassarri
|
Duc
|
+0.589
|
|
7
|
A. Surra
|
Duc
|
+0.615
|
|
8
|
M. Oliveira
|
BMW
|
+0.840
|
|
9
|
G. Gerloff
|
Kaw
|
+0.848
|
|
10
|
A. Lowes
|
Bim
|
+0.895
|
|
11
|
J. Dixon
|
Hon
|
+0.915
|
|
12
|
D. Petrucci
|
BMW
|
+0.955
|
|
13
|
S. Manzi
|
Yam
|
+0.998
|
|
14
|
R. Gardner
|
Yam
|
+1.002
|
|
15
|
T. Bridewell
|
Duc
|
+1.045
|
|
16
|
A. Bassani
|
Bim
|
+1.049
|
|
17
|
A. Bautista
|
Duc
|
+1.065
|
|
18
|
S. Chantra
|
Hon
|
+1.178
|
|
19
|
M. Rato
|
Yam
|
+1.690
|
|
20
|
A. Locatelli
|
Yam
|
+1.828
|
|
21
|
B. Sofuoglu
|
Yam
|
+2.140
|
WorldSSP
Debise leads historic ZXMOTO one-two
Valentin Debise recovered from an early crash to claim the first WorldSSP pole position of his career at his home round. The Frenchman fell at Turn 15 during the 40-minute session but returned to the track and produced a 1m39.585 in the closing moments.
The result also gave ZXMOTO its first WorldSSP pole and first Superpole one-two, with EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros team-mate Federico Caricasulo only 0.059 seconds behind. It was Caricasulo’s first front-row start of the season.
Valentin Debise: “The bike was amazing and gave me all the potential I needed to get this pole. I’m also very happy for Federico with his second position.”
Lucas Mahias had looked set to deliver pole for both himself and GMT94 Yamaha on home soil until the two ZXMOTO riders struck late. Mahias ultimately qualified third, 0.276 seconds from Debise, while team-mate Roberto Garcia headed the second row in fourth.
Jeremy Alcoba took fifth despite a late crash at Turn 2, with Jorge Navarro completing the second row in sixth on the PTR Triumph. French rider Corentin Perolari qualified seventh ahead of Filippo Farioli and Tom Booth-Amos.
Title contenders face work from further back
Championship leader Albert Arenas salvaged tenth after spending much of the session outside the leading group on his first competitive visit to Magny-Cours. Can Oncu’s session was interrupted by a technical problem and he qualified 13th, while Jaume Masia will launch from 18th.
Philipp Oettl was unable to set a qualifying time after crashing at Turn 12 early in the session. Simon Jespersen qualified 14th but is due to start from the back of the grid after failing to respect the yellow-flag procedure during Free Practice.
WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
Max
|
|
1
|
V. Debise
|
Zxm
|
1m39.585
|
261.5
|
|
2
|
F. Caricasulo
|
Zxm
|
+0.059
|
261.5
|
|
3
|
L. Mahias
|
Yam
|
+0.276
|
257.8
|
|
4
|
R. Garcia
|
Yam
|
+0.394
|
262.1
|
|
5
|
J. Alcoba
|
Kaw
|
+0.522
|
268.0
|
|
6
|
J. Navarro
|
Tri
|
+0.549
|
264.7
|
|
7
|
C. Perolari
|
Hon
|
+0.673
|
257.1
|
|
8
|
F. Farioli
|
Yam
|
+0.740
|
267.3
|
|
9
|
T. Booth-Amos
|
Tri
|
+0.840
|
261.5
|
|
10
|
A. Arenas
|
Yam
|
+0.952
|
262.1
|
|
11
|
M. Ferrari
|
Duc
|
+0.980
|
258.4
|
|
12
|
J. Whatley
|
Duc
|
+1.039
|
260.2
|
|
13
|
C. Oncu
|
Yam
|
+1.056
|
255.3
|
|
14
|
S. Jespersen
|
Duc
|
+1.058
|
258.4
|
|
15
|
D. Aegerter
|
Kaw
|
+1.074
|
260.9
|
|
16
|
R. De Rosa
|
Qjm
|
+1.095
|
257.8
|
|
17
|
A. Mahendra
|
Yam
|
+1.221
|
256.5
|
|
18
|
J. Masia
|
Duc
|
+1.344
|
265.4
|
|
19
|
Y. Okamoto
|
Yam
|
+1.347
|
257.1
|
|
20
|
B. Jimenez
|
Duc
|
+1.458
|
263.4
|
|
21
|
A. Zaccone
|
Duc
|
+1.478
|
259.6
|
|
22
|
M. Casadei
|
Duc
|
+1.507
|
263.4
|
|
23
|
L. Taccini
|
Duc
|
+1.674
|
264.1
|
|
24
|
O. Konig
|
Tri
|
+1.734
|
258.4
|
|
25
|
O. Vostatek
|
Tri
|
+1.736
|
258.4
|
|
26
|
M. Ramirez
|
Qjm
|
+1.751
|
261.5
|
|
27
|
H. Garzo
|
Duc
|
+2.352
|
259.0
|
|
28
|
A. Giombini
|
Mva
|
+2.426
|
259.6
|
|
29
|
A. Carrasco
|
Hon
|
+2.492
|
261.5
|
|
30
|
M. Gines
|
Yam
|
+2.605
|
260.9
|
|
31
|
A. Kofler
|
Yam
|
+2.797
|
255.3
|
|
32
|
S. Di Sora
|
Mva
|
+3.619
|
250.0
|
|
NQ
|
P. Oettl
|
Duc
|
||
WorldSPB
Salvador makes it four poles in succession
David Salvador resumed the inaugural WorldSPB season in the same fashion he had left it, claiming a fourth consecutive pole position aboard the Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI ZX-6R 636.
The Spaniard left his decisive lap until late in the session, setting a 1m45.549 to beat Loris Veneman by 0.240 seconds. Xavi Artigas grabbed third with his final lap, completing the first all-Kawasaki front-row lockout in WorldSPB history.
David Salvador: “It’s super nice after the summer break to take another pole position. We’ll continue into the weekend with the same performance.”
Antonio Torres will head the second row after qualifying fourth, just 0.486 seconds from his ProDina team-mate. Fenton Seabright, who had topped Free Practice and led the opening half of Superpole, was pushed back to fifth as the late laps arrived.
Thompson salvages sixth after Turn 8 fall
Carter Thompson was sitting second with ten minutes remaining before the Australian crashed at Turn 8. His earlier 1m46.235 survived for sixth, 0.686 seconds from pole, securing the final place on the second row despite the fall.
Thompson came to France on the back of three consecutive podium finishes and will remain well placed to extend that sequence in Race 1. Alvaro Fuertes and Pepe Osuna qualified seventh and eighth, with Elia Bartolini and Matteo Vannucci completing the top ten.
The WorldSPB riders’ crown cannot be decided at Magny-Cours, although Kawasaki can secure the Manufacturers’ Championship and ProDina Kawasaki can clinch the Teams’ Championship on Sunday.
WorldSPB Tissot Superpole
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time/Gap
|
Max
|
|
1
|
D. Salvador
|
Kaw
|
1m45.549
|
226.9
|
|
2
|
L. Veneman
|
Kaw
|
+0.240
|
227.4
|
|
3
|
X. Artigas
|
Kaw
|
+0.472
|
229.8
|
|
4
|
A. Torres
|
Kaw
|
+0.486
|
225.9
|
|
5
|
F. Seabright
|
Tri
|
+0.494
|
233.8
|
|
6
|
C. Thompson
|
Yam
|
+0.686
|
229.8
|
|
7
|
A. Fuertes
|
Kaw
|
+0.777
|
228.8
|
|
8
|
J. Osuna
|
Kaw
|
+0.931
|
229.8
|
|
9
|
E. Bartolini
|
Tri
|
+0.943
|
229.8
|
|
10
|
M. Vannucci
|
Apr
|
+0.950
|
231.3
|
|
11
|
M. Gaggi
|
Yam
|
+0.998
|
230.3
|
|
12
|
H. Dessoy
|
Tri
|
+1.044
|
229.3
|
|
13
|
F. Fleerackers
|
Suz
|
+1.071
|
227.4
|
|
14
|
M. Gennai
|
Yam
|
+1.177
|
224.5
|
|
15
|
J. Risueno
|
Kaw
|
+1.233
|
230.3
|
|
16
|
F. Mulya
|
Yam
|
+1.235
|
232.8
|
|
17
|
B. Fernandez
|
Kov
|
+1.414
|
225.9
|
|
18
|
T. Benetti
|
Apr
|
+1.420
|
229.8
|
|
19
|
J. van Crugten
|
Apr
|
+1.492
|
225.0
|
|
20
|
B. Ieraci
|
Tri
|
+1.642
|
229.3
|
|
21
|
K. Beekmans
|
Suz
|
+1.647
|
223.6
|
|
22
|
J. Correa
|
Kaw
|
+1.729
|
229.3
|
|
23
|
T. Aksu
|
Hon
|
+1.737
|
227.8
|
|
24
|
B. Perrin
|
Yam
|
+1.780
|
229.8
|
|
25
|
A. Di Persio
|
Yam
|
+1.868
|
225.9
|
|
26
|
G. Sanchez
|
Yam
|
+2.130
|
227.8
|
|
27
|
H. De Cancellis
|
Kov
|
+2.592
|
219.5
|
|
28
|
G. Cazard
|
Yam
|
+2.638
|
227.8
|
|
29
|
H. Maier
|
Yam
|
+2.801
|
225.5
|
|
30
|
A. Mizera
|
Yam
|
+2.850
|
220.9
|
|
31
|
M. Sorrenti
|
Apr
|
+2.916
|
224.1
|
|
32
|
T. Sovicka
|
Yam
|
+3.068
|
224.1
|
|
33
|
M. Vich
|
Suz
|
+3.459
|
226.4
|
|
34
|
T. Alonso
|
Yam
|
+4.937
|
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
|
