Portimão 2026, Race 2: who will stop Nicolò Bulega?

October 2025: it was precisely on Portuguese soil, and curiously in Race 2, that Nicolò Bulega claimed victory at the Estoril circuit, starting a series of wins that would continue until the end of the season with the ‘hat-trick’ at Jerez de la Frontera. All achievements that, despite their importance, did not help the Emilian rider to prevail over Toprak Razgatlioglu in the fight for the world title, but were the beginning of a series of consecutive victories that have not yet ended. From then until the last race in Portimão, Bulega has stood on the top step of the podium ten times in a row, dominating this first part of the championship in Australia and Portugal. The question almost arises spontaneously: who will stop him in the upcoming events?

Read more Drivers and Constructors Standings after Portimão 2026

Race report

The start was almost a ‘replay’ of what was seen in the Superpole Race, with Bulega once again the protagonist of an excellent launch that allowed him to stay at the head of the group ahead of Alex Lowes and Oliveira, who took advantage of a not yet positive start by Lecuona to climb into the podium zone. The Spanish Ducati rider, however, quickly regained second position within three laps, in a race that also seemed to have started positively for Montella, author of a good start. The Campanian, while in fifth place, fell at turn 5 (at the same spot where Xavi Vierge also slipped nearby), with Sam Lowes taking advantage to return once again to the top 5 ahead of Bassani. A race that, especially in the back, saw numerous crashes without consequences, always at turn 5 or 13, except for Garrett Gerloff, out at the last corner on the last lap: among the riders who lost control of their bikes was also the two-time world champion Alvaro Bautista, which happened while the Spaniard was fighting with Bassani for sixth position. In the final stages of the race, Alex Lowes gradually reduced the gap to Oliveira, until he was right behind the Portuguese BMW, but without completing the overtaking for 3rd place. In this way, the podium and the top 5 of Race 2 were the same as seen in Race 1 and the Superpole Race: Ducati-Aruba.it double with Bulega winner ahead of Lecuona, third place (and third consecutive podium in SBK) for Oliveira ahead of brothers Alex and Sam Lowes.

Read more Three doubles in one weekend: Aruba.it – Ducati makes history

Portimão 2026, Race 2: finishing order

Next appointment

With the second weekend of the season archived, the Superbike will return to the track in just under a month, from April 17 to 19, for the Round of the Netherlands. An unmissable event for fans, who will see the riders battle on the historic Assen circuit, better known as the ‘Cathedral of Speed’.

Read more Oliveira’s podiums in Portugal do not put pressure on Petrucci