WorldSBK 2026

Round Ten- Cremona – Saturday

Iker Lecuona completed a near-perfect day by taking a new lap record and pole position before controlling all 23 laps of WorldSBK Race 1. Nicolo Bulega followed his Aruba.it Racing Ducati team-mate home in second and now stands on the brink of securing his first WorldSBK Championship.

Jeremy Alcoba converted pole into his maiden WorldSSP victory after a red flag forced a shortened 13-lap restart, while championship leader Albert Arenas extended his advantage with second place after a fierce final-lap battle with Filippo Farioli.

WorldSPB produced the closest contest of the three, with six riders covered by barely half a second at the finish. Xavi Artigas emerged on top after a race featuring repeated changes of leader, while Australian Carter Thompson led during the middle stages before taking fifth, just 0.433s from victory.

From a dominant lights-to-flag performance in the premier class to tightly fought battles in WorldSSP and WorldSPB, we unpack what went down at Cremona on Saturday.

WorldSBK Race One

Iker Lecuona completed a commanding Saturday at Cremona by taking pole position and then leading every lap of the opening WorldSBK race, while Nicolo Bulega moved another step closer to sealing the 2026 championship.

Lecuona had already established himself as the benchmark on Friday and carried that form into Tissot Superpole, setting a new Cremona lap record of 1m27.253s.

It was not entirely straightforward. Lecuona ran through the gravel at Turn 2 during the session but was able to rejoin and subsequently produce the lap that secured pole.

Bulega came within just 0.044s of his Aruba.it Racing Ducati team-mate, with Alberto Surra completing an all-Ducati front row, 0.184s from pole.

Sam Lowes, Yari Montella and Lorenzo Baldassarri filled the next three positions to make it six Ducati Panigale V4 Rs at the head of the grid.

The closing minutes of Superpole were particularly hectic, with Axel Bassani, Andrea Locatelli and Sam Lowes all crashing and the resulting yellow flags compromising a number of final runs.

Remy Gardner recovered strongly from his sizeable Friday FP2 crash to qualify 11th with a 1m28.260s. The Australian remained sore from Friday’s incident but at least had a much better starting position from which to attack Race 1.

When the 23-lap race got underway, Lecuona converted pole into the lead while Montella made a superb launch from fifth. The Italian had surged into second before crashing between Turns 12 and 13 late on the opening lap.

Montella remounted at the back of the field, leaving Bulega second and Surra third behind Lecuona.

From there Lecuona never relinquished control.

He was already close to a second clear of Bulega after the opening lap and gradually stretched the advantage while also setting the fastest lap of the race, a 1m28.077s on lap five.

Surra remained third through the opening eight laps and was in position for another significant result before crashing at Turn 7.

That promoted Sam Lowes into third and Baldassarri to fourth. Lowes maintained the position for the remainder of the race to claim his ninth podium of the season, finishing 7.247 seconds behind Lecuona and 1.516 seconds ahead of Baldassarri.

Lecuona ultimately crossed the line 5.591 seconds ahead of Bulega to complete a lights-to-flag victory and another Aruba.it Racing Ducati one-two.

The battle behind the leading Ducati quartet developed into a fight between Garrett Gerloff and Alex Lowes. Gerloff had started eighth and Lowes seventh, but the Kawasaki rider eventually got the better of the Bimota and held fifth to the flag by just 0.317s.

Gerloff was also the highest-placed non-Ducati rider, although the pair finished more than 20 seconds behind Lecuona.

Andrea Locatelli produced one of the stronger recovery rides of the afternoon. A crash late in Superpole had left the Italian 15th on the grid, but he fought his way through to seventh.

Bassani recovered from 13th to finish eighth, immediately behind Locatelli.

Jake Dixon made even greater progress after an early Superpole crash left him 18th on the grid. The Honda rider made an excellent launch and had climbed to 11th by the end of the opening lap before working his way past Stefano Manzi and Gardner.

Dixon eventually reached ninth and spent much of the second half of the race behind Bassani. He could not find a way past the Bimota and then had to turn his attention to a rapidly closing Alvaro Bautista in the final laps.

Bautista had started only 16th but methodically worked through the field. He reached 13th on lap 11, 12th on lap 12, 11th on lap 13 and tenth on lap 14.

The Spaniard then closed a gap of more than 1.5 seconds to Dixon and crossed the line only 0.108s behind the Honda, leaving Dixon ninth and Bautista tenth.

Manzi finished 11th, while Gardner brought the second GYTR GRT Yamaha home in 12th.

Gardner had made an excellent start and was as high as eighth at the end of the opening lap, but was unable to maintain that position over the full race distance. Still feeling the effects of Friday’s crash and having missed almost all of FP2, the Australian ultimately finished 35.089 seconds from the winner.

Somkiat Chantra matched his best result of the season with 13th after struggling with the front of his Honda in the second half of the race.

There were plenty of casualties.

Montella’s opening-lap crash was followed by another fall at Turn 10 as he tried to recover through the field, ending a difficult race in which he had briefly shown the speed to run second.

Thomas Bridewell retired with a technical problem after seven laps, Surra crashed out of third at Turn 7, Miguel Oliveira fell at Turn 2 after 11 laps and Xavi Vierge crashed at Turn 5 after completing 16 laps.

Bulega’s second place moved him to 573 championship points, 141 clear of Lecuona on 432.

That leaves Bulega with the opportunity to seal his first WorldSBK title on Sunday. He can clinch it in the Superpole Race if he outscores Lecuona by eight points, while across Sunday’s two races he needs to prevent Lecuona from taking more than 17 points out of his advantage.

WorldSBK Race One Results

Pos	Rider	Bike	TIme/Gap	Speed
1	I. Lecuona	Duc	34m01.930	303.4
2	N. Bulega	Duc	+5.591	302.5
3	S. Lowes	Duc	+7.247	304.2
4	L. Baldassarri	Duc	+8.763	301.7
5	G. Gerloff	Kaw	+20.250	307.7
6	A. Lowes	Bim	+20.567	309.5
7	A. Locatelli	Yam	+26.939	301.7
8	A. Bassani	Bim	+27.351	300.8
9	J. Dixon	Hon	+27.569	305.9
10	A. Bautista	Duc	+27.677	305.1
11	S. Manzi	Yam	+32.756	302.5
12	R. Gardner	Yam	+35.089	300.0
13	S. Chantra	Hon	+37.019	304.2
14	D. Petrucci	BMW	+39.564	301.7
15	L. Baz	Duc	+40.567	300.0
16	M. Rato	Yam	+47.773	299.2
17	T. Smits	Yam	+1m23.417	296.7
Not Classified
RET	X. Vierge	Yam	+7 laps	294.3
RET	M. Oliveira	BMW	+12 laps	297.5
RET	A. Surra	Duc	+15 laps	301.7
RET	T. Bridewell	Duc	+16 laps	291.1
RET	Y. Montella	Duc	+16 laps	303.4

WorldSBK Superpole Times

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Max
1	I. Lecuona	Duc	1m27.253	304.2
2	N. Bulega	Duc	+0.044	305.1
3	A. Surra	Duc	+0.184	301.7
4	S. Lowes	Duc	+0.374	305.1
5	Y. Montella	Duc	+0.470	302.5
6	L. Baldassarri	Duc	+0.538	300.8
7	A. Lowes	Bim	+0.642	302.5
8	G. Gerloff	Kaw	+0.710	304.2
9	M. Oliveira	BMW	+0.748	302.5
10	T. Bridewell	Duc	+0.909	299.2
11	R. Gardner	Yam	+1.007	301.7
12	X. Vierge	Yam	+1.011	300.8
13	A. Bassani	Bim	+1.044	300.8
14	S. Manzi	Yam	+1.213	301.7
15	A. Locatelli	Yam	+1.277	300.0
16	A. Bautista	Duc	+1.281	305.1
17	S. Chantra	Hon	+1.425	307.7
18	J. Dixon	Hon	+1.502	300.0
19	D. Petrucci	BMW	+1.679	304.2
20	T. Smits	Yam	+1.717	295.1
21	L. Baz	Duc	+1.781	299.2
22	M. Rato	Yam	+1.985	300.8

WorldSSP Race One

Jeremy Alcoba converted his Cremona pole position into a maiden WorldSSP victory after an interrupted opening race that eventually came down to a four-rider fight at the front.

The original start was red-flagged in the early stages after Roberto Garcia crashed, with the race subsequently restarted over 13 laps.

Championship leader Albert Arenas again made the better launch when racing resumed and led at the completion of the opening lap, with Alcoba second and Filippo Farioli third.

Alcoba did not wait long to make his move.

The Kawasaki rider took the lead on lap two and remained there for every remaining lap, but was never able to relax. Arenas, Farioli and Valentin Debise remained within striking distance throughout, with the leading quartet covered by less than a second for much of the race.

Can Öncü was also initially part of the leading group. Starting sixth, the Turk moved as high as third before crashing at Turn 3 in the early stages.

Öncü was able to get going again, but by then his race was effectively lost. He eventually reached the finish and was classified 27th, one lap down.

At the front, Alcoba continued to control the race while Arenas initially held second ahead of Farioli and Debise.

Farioli moved ahead of Arenas on lap ten and remained second through laps 11 and 12, setting up a tense final lap.

Arenas responded with an aggressive move down the back straight. With Farioli defending, the championship leader was forced towards the edge of the circuit but remained committed and regained second place.

Alcoba stayed clear of the fight behind and crossed the line 0.568s ahead to claim his first WorldSSP race victory.

Arenas secured second, Farioli was only 0.120s further back in third and Debise completed an exceptionally close lead group in fourth, just 0.822s from the winner.

Farioli’s result marked his maiden WorldSSP podium.

Tom Booth-Amos finished fifth after starting ninth and was particularly quick in the middle stages. His 1m31.822s on lap seven established a new race lap record and will put the Triumph rider on pole for Sunday’s Race 2.

Matteo Ferrari completed the top six ahead of Jaume Masia.

Further back, Matteo Casadei produced an excellent recovery from 17th on the grid to eighth, while Dominique Aegerter finished ninth.

Aldi Satya Mahendra also made substantial progress through the field, taking tenth place for Yamaha.

It was a very short race for Australian Oli Bayliss.

Bayliss had qualified 11th on the PTR Triumph but crashed at Turn 4 immediately after the start and did not complete the opening lap.

Lucas Mahias also crashed at Turn 3 later in the race. The Frenchman remounted but subsequently returned to pit lane and retired.

Alessandro Zaccone crashed at Turn 10 after six laps, while Corentin Perolari and Javier Garcia were also among the non-finishers.

Arenas revealed afterwards that a small problem from the opening lap of the restart prevented him from exploiting the full potential of his Yamaha and mounting a stronger challenge to Alcoba.

Nevertheless, second place extended his championship advantage to 77 points over Debise.

Arenas now has his first opportunity to seal the 2026 WorldSSP Championship in Sunday’s second race. He needs to outscore Debise by 24 points to secure the crown at Cremona.

Race 1 fastest lap also determines the front of the Race 2 grid, putting Booth-Amos on pole alongside Alcoba and Debise. Arenas will start from fourth.

WorldSSP Race One Results

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Speed
1	J. Alcoba	Kaw	20m00.272	262.1
2	A. Arenas	Yam	+0.568	263.4
3	F. Farioli	Yam	+0.688	266.0
4	V. Debise	Zxm	+0.822	267.3
5	T. Booth-Amos	Tri	+3.761	266.0
6	M. Ferrari	Duc	+7.096	268.0
7	J. Masia	Duc	+9.102	266.7
8	M. Casadei	Duc	+9.325	266.0
9	D. Aegerter	Kaw	+9.747	268.7
10	A. Mahendra	Yam	+10.227	262.8
11	P. Oettl	Duc	+10.661	271.4
12	L. Taccini	Duc	+11.915	269.3
13	O. Vostatek	Tri	+12.102	266.0
14	R. De Rosa	Qjm	+13.073	264.1
15	R. Garcia	Yam	+16.636	263.4
16	B. Jimenez	Duc	+17.899	266.7
17	H. Garzo	Duc	+19.091	264.1
18	O. Konig	Tri	+20.129	262.1
19	B. Sofuoglu	Qjm	+21.659	265.4
20	Y. Okamoto	Yam	+24.997	269.3
21	A. Giombini	Mva	+26.203	262.1
22	S. Di Sora	Mva	+32.846	265.4
23	R. Rossi	Duc	+33.109	264.1
24	A. Kofler	Yam	+33.529	261.5
25	A. Carrasco	Hon	+34.840	263.4
26	F. Caricasulo	Zxm	+58.281	261.5
27	C. Öncü	Yam	+1 lap	264.7
Not Classified
RET	C. Perolari	Hon	+3 laps	264.1
RET	J. Garcia	Kaw	+5 laps	266.0
RET	L. Mahias	Yam	+5 laps	266.7
RET	A. Zaccone	Duc	+7 laps	268.0
RET	O. Bayliss	Tri	DNF	—
RET	S. Jespersen	Duc	DNF	—

WorldSPB Race One

Carter Thompson started WorldSPB Race 1 from pole position at Cremona, but the Australian found himself in the middle of an extraordinary six-rider fight in which the lead changed repeatedly before Xavi Artigas emerged with his second consecutive victory.

Thompson had earned pole on Friday with a 1m35.746s, while championship leader David Salvador was forced to start eighth after receiving a six-place grid penalty for slow riding during Superpole.

Artigas started third and immediately hit the front, leading Thompson across the line at the end of the opening lap.

Ferre Fleerackers then took over on lap two before Artigas moved back ahead for laps three and four.

Thompson remained right with the leaders throughout those early exchanges and made his move on lap five, putting the Team BrCorse Yamaha into the lead.

The order changed again almost immediately.

Fenton Seabright led lap six on the Triumph, Harrison Dessoy took his turn at the front on lap seven and Artigas then regained control on lap eight.

From that point Artigas remained at the head of the field to the chequered flag, but there was never any meaningful breathing room.

Thompson was shuffled back to fifth as the positions changed around him, while Salvador produced an impressive recovery from eighth on the grid.

The championship leader was sixth after the opening lap, fifth by lap three, fourth on lap four and third on lap five.

By lap eight Salvador had worked his way into second behind Artigas and remained there through lap ten before Dessoy moved ahead in the closing stages.

Artigas began the final lap with Dessoy, Salvador, Seabright, Thompson and Alvaro Fuertes all still in contention.

He held on to win by just 0.108s from Dessoy, with Salvador third only 0.272s from the winner.

Seabright finished fourth at 0.360s, Thompson fifth at 0.433s and Fuertes sixth at 0.502s.

That meant only half a second covered the first six riders after 12 laps.

Thompson’s fifth place perhaps did not reflect how competitive his afternoon had been. The Australian ran second for much of the opening phase, led lap five and remained within half a second of the eventual winner at the flag.

Fuertes’ sixth was another standout ride, the Spaniard having started only 13th.

Artigas also set a new race lap record of 1m36.440s on lap six. That fastest lap earns him pole position for Race 2, where he will share the front row with Fuertes and Seabright.

There was disappointment for Artigas’ MTM Kawasaki team-mate Loris Veneman, who was still circulating inside the top ten when a technical problem forced him to stop at Turn 10 after nine laps.

Artigas’ victory was particularly important for the championship.

Salvador remains the series leader on 213 points, but Artigas has closed to 192, reducing the gap to 21 points and ensuring the inaugural WorldSPB Riders’ Championship will go through to the final round.

Thompson remains fourth in the championship on 133 points.

Kawasaki did, however, wrap up one championship at Cremona. The Race 1 result secured the inaugural WorldSPB Manufacturers’ Championship, with Kawasaki moving to 282 points and establishing an unassailable 79-point advantage over Triumph.

Kawasaki riders have won eight of the first 13 WorldSPB races, with Salvador, Antonio Torres, Artigas and Veneman all contributing to the manufacturer’s championship tally.

WorldSPB Race One Results

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Speed
1	X. Artigas	Kaw	19m26.616	229.3
2	H. Dessoy	Tri	+0.108	230.8
3	D. Salvador	Kaw	+0.272	228.3
4	F. Seabright	Tri	+0.360	230.8
5	C. Thompson	Yam	+0.433	229.8
6	A. Fuertes	Kaw	+0.502	229.3
7	F. Fleerackers	Suz	+2.408	228.8
8	M. Gaggi	Yam	+2.621	228.3
9	J. Osuna	Kaw	+3.355	230.8
10	J. Correa	Kaw	+4.225	231.3
11	A. Torres	Kaw	+4.376	228.8
12	B. Ieraci	Tri	+4.596	235.3
13	M. Vannucci	Apr	+4.624	238.4
14	E. Bartolini	Tri	+4.779	235.3
15	M. Gennai	Yam	+5.118	235.8
16	J. van Crugten	Apr	+8.371	233.3
17	J. Risueno	Kaw	+8.576	242.2
18	J. Buis	Suz	+9.830	230.8
19	M. Rocca	Tri	+10.077	221.8
20	F. Mulya	Yam	+10.422	228.3
21	K. Farkas	Yam	+10.574	230.3
22	T. Benetti	Apr	+10.937	234.3
23	M. Sorrenti	Apr	+11.075	236.8
24	T. Aksu	Hon	+13.526	231.8
25	B. Fernandez	Kov	+13.636	226.9
26	H. Maier	Yam	+13.698	227.8
27	A. Di Persio	Yam	+26.826	227.4
28	I. Schunselaar	Suz	+27.590	226.4
29	T. Sovicka	Yam	+27.887	231.3
30	H. De Cancellis	Kov	+28.442	225.9
31	M. Martella	Yam	+34.409	223.1
32	G. Cazard	Yam	+1m06.099	228.3
Not Classified
RET	L. Veneman	Kaw	+3 laps	235.8
RET	G. Sanchez	Yam	+6 laps	229.8

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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

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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

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