WorldSBK Estoril: Bulega Equals Bautista, Arenas WorldSSP Champion
The newsroomUpdated on October 11, 20263 minWorldSBK Estoril Race 1: Nicolò Bulega takes his 27th win of 2026 to equal Bautista's record, Alberto Surra reaches the podium and Albert Arenas wins the WorldSSP title.
Key point
Nicolò Bulega won Race 1 at Estoril, his 27th victory of the season and a match for Álvaro Bautista's 2023 record, while Albert Arenas was crowned WorldSSP world champion.
Nicolò Bulega (Ducati) won Race 1 of WorldSBK at Estoril on Saturday, his 27th victory of the season. That matches Álvaro Bautista's 2023 record for the most wins in a single season. Albert Arenas also celebrated, becoming 2026 WorldSSP world champion.
Bulega sets the record straight
Crowned champion at Cremona, Bulega had been beaten there three times in a row by his team-mate Iker Lecuona. At Estoril he answered in Superpole, lowering Toprak Razgatlioglu's 2025 track record by about half a second.
In the race, a small error at Turn 1 on the opening lap dropped him to third, behind Lecuona and Alex Lowes's Bimota. He passed Lowes on lap two, then Lecuona a lap later under braking at the same corner. From lap three he controlled the 21-lap race from the front. Ducati took a one-two and Lecuona's winning run came to an end.
Surra on the podium, Oliveira just behind
The fight for third went to Alberto Surra (Motocorsa). He held off local hero Miguel Oliveira, a five-time MotoGP winner, keeping a margin of around two seconds. It is his second podium in three races and his first in a full-length race.
Oliveira scored his best result since Portimão, ahead of Lowes in fifth. Lorenzo Baldassarri finished sixth and Axel Bassani seventh, 0.033 s ahead of Yari Montella, with Bautista and Garrett Gerloff completing the top 10.
Arenas crowned WorldSSP champion
In Supersport, the Triumphs of Tom Booth-Amos and Oli Bayliss crossed the line just 0.075 s apart. The title, however, was decided further back: Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing, Yamaha) started ninth and finished fourth. With an 86-point lead before the race, that was enough.
Six years after his Moto3 title in 2020, he becomes the second rider after Sandro Cortese to be world champion in both classes. He also joins Cortese (2018), Andrea Locatelli (2020) and Dominique Aegerter (2021) among riders who won the WorldSSP title in their rookie season. He has 3 wins and 16 podiums this year, and three races remain.
Sunday's schedule
Portugal is an hour behind Central Europe. The 10-lap Superpole Race starts at 12:10 (Central European Time) and the 21-lap Race 2 at 16:30. The championship wraps up next weekend at Jerez.
Key takeaways
- Bulega: 27th win, Bautista's record equalled.
- Estoril podium: Bulega, Lecuona, Surra.
- Arenas: 2026 WorldSSP world champion.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Race 1 of WorldSBK at Estoril?
Nicolò Bulega (Ducati), ahead of his team-mate Iker Lecuona. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa) completed the podium.
Which record did Bulega equal?
His 27th win of the season matches Álvaro Bautista's 2023 record for the most race victories in a single WorldSBK season.
Who is the 2026 WorldSSP world champion?
Albert Arenas, riding a Yamaha for AS BLU CRU Racing. He clinched the title at Estoril by finishing fourth in Race 1.
What is left of the season?
Estoril is the eleventh round of the world championship, which ends next weekend at Jerez in Spain.
Sources
- Motorsport Week — Bulega leads a Ducati 1-2 in Race 1 at Estoril
- Paddock GP — Superbike Estoril Race 1: Bulega plays his score
- Paddock GP — Supersport Estoril: Albert Arenas takes the 2026 WorldSSP title
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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