Magny-Cours 2026, Superpole Race: 25th seal of Bulega. Montella on the podium

The chances of seeing Nicolò Bulega always on the top step of the podium in a single weekend, complete with Superpole, are also present in France. The #11 Ducati rider, absolute leader of the world championship, in fact won the Superpole Race after the victory in Race 1 yesterday, following a thrilling duel with his teammate Iker Lecuona similar to the one seen on Saturday afternoon. Satisfaction also for Yari Montella, who after overtaking Surra secured third place taking advantage of Sam Lowes’ crash at the finish.

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Race report

The start of the Superpole Race seemed like a sort of replay of Race 1 yesterday, with Bulega leading after the first corners but overtaken by teammate Iker Lecuona at the Adelaide braking point already during the first lap after the Spanish rider passed Sam Lowes. At the start, the British rider then defended third position from Surra and Montella, with Bassani making a stunning start recovering seven positions. The two Aruba.it riders immediately pulled away from the chasers, with Bulega back in the lead on the 3rd lap again at Adelaide before Lecuona’s last-ditch attempt, once again in the same corner, to regain the top spot. A wrong and risky maneuver forced the Spaniard to go off track, however maintaining second position ahead of Sam Lowes. From that moment, Bulega continued in front until the checkered flag, securing his 25th win of the season ahead of Lecuona and setting a new lap record of the circuit. Moreover, on the last lap, Sam Lowes crashed at turn 3, with Montella thus ‘inheriting’ the Englishman’s third position. Superbike will return to the track at 14:00 with the final event of this French weekend, Race 2.

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Magny-Cours, Superpole Race: finishing order