Magny-Cours 2026, Race 2: another victory for Bulega, but not enough for the title

Magny-Cours 2026, Race 2: another victory for Bulega, but not enough for the title

Excluding the Donington Round, where Lecuona won Race 1, all other rounds of this world championship have been won by Nicolò Bulega, who also dominated in France from the Superpole to Race 2 held today. Yet, despite the string of victories, the podiums achieved by Iker Lecuona, always in 2nd place at the Magny-Cours circuit, do not allow Ducati’s #11 to be mathematically crowned 2026 world champion, with the possible world title that could be secured in the next round right at home, in Cremona.

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Race report

At the green lights, Bulega maintained the lead ahead of Lecuona, who on this occasion was unable to get the better of his teammate at the Adelaide braking point, unlike what happened at the start of the Superpole Race and Race 1. A point on the track where, instead, Surra overtook Montella, moving into the podium zone. In the following five laps, Bulega gained over two seconds advantage on Lecuona, while Montella regained third position from his compatriot. Gaps that, from that moment, gradually increased, with the only notable battle involving Surra and Baldassarri for 4th place. Additionally, during the penultimate lap, the race was suspended due to the crash of Bridewell at turn 3. Although the rider got up without physical problems, the bike hit the air fences, which led the race direction to decide to suspend the race, as happened yesterday in Race 1. Unlike Saturday, however, with over two-thirds of the race completed, the event ended early.

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Magny-Cours, Race 2: finishing order

POS.RIDERBIKETIME/GAP
1Nicolò BulegaDucati20 laps
2Iker LecuonaDucati+5.420
3Yari MontellaDucati+9.378
4Lorenzo BaldassarriDucati+13.908
5Alberto SurraDucati+16.387
6Alvaro BautistaDucati+21.852
7Garrett GerloffKawasaki+23.353
8Xavi ViergeYamaha+24.017
9Axel BassaniBimota+24.493
10Remy GardnerYamaha+25.548
11Sam LowesDucati+26.790
12Danilo PetrucciBMW+32.226
13Alex LowesBimota+36.502
14Somkiat ChantraHonda+36.275
15Miguel OliveiraBMW+38.223
16Thomas BridewellDucatiRetired
17Stefano ManziYamahaRetired
18Jake DixonHondaRetired
19Mattia RatoYamahaRetired
20Andrea LocatelliYamahaRetired

Next appointment

With the French Round concluded, Italian fans can prepare for the second of the two events on the calendar in our country. After Misano, in two weeks, from September 25 to 27, the Superbike will arrive at the Cremona track, venue of the third-to-last world championship round.

Read more Leclerc, total disaster: pushes Hamilton out, loses two positions and then crashes at the Parabolica

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