Superpole Triumph After A Dramatic Start

Bulega extends his dictatorship in Hungary: victory in Superpole after a dramatic start

The Ducati Italian signs his fifteenth consecutive victory in a weekend marked by the serious fall of Miguel Oliveira

The Balaton circuit has witnessed another lesson in authority. Nicolò Bulega (Ducati) does not give up. The Italian rider, intractable throughout the season, took pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix of the World Superbike in a Superpole session that changed its script in the first corner. His teammate, Iker Lecuona, completed a double for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, with Lorenzo Baldasarri (Ducati) closing a 100% Italian and factory podium.

The session had started normally until the end of the first warm-up lap. At Turn 6, a multiple incident involving Miguel Oliveira (BMW), Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (Ducati) triggered the red flags. The Portuguese, upon his return to the track after a technical problem on the formation lap, severely impacted the protections. Oliveira was evacuated on a stretcher with trauma to his left shoulder, leaving his participation in this afternoon's race up in the air and adding a worrying loss to the championship.

After cleaning the track and medical examination of the drivers, the restart took place with the race shortened to eight laps. From the first meter, Bulega showed why he is the man to beat. He managed the start perfectly, taking the lead with an authority that contrasted with the nerves of the peloton after the accident. Lecuona escorted him, while Baldasarri remained third. Locatelli, despite having been one of those involved, was able to restart, but race direction imposed a two-drive-through penalty for his role in the incident, condemning him to a long trip from the back.

The race, in its new duration, became a control monologue for Bulega. With five laps remaining, the #1 Ducati set the best time of the test, stretching its lead over Lecuona to over a second and a half. It was an unbridgeable gap in so few laps. Meanwhile, Locatelli served his sanction, dropping to thirteenth position, and Sam Lowes, also involved in the initial touch but without sanction, sank in the classification.

Iker Lecuona, however, fought a solid battle for second place. Although he could not trouble his teammate, he did manage to progressively reduce the disadvantage, leaving it within a margin of 0.8 seconds when crossing the finish line. A sample of his rhythm, although insufficient for today. Behind, Álvaro Bautista (Ducati) made a good comeback from sixth place in the first lap to reach fourth place in the final, putting pressure on but unable to catch Baldasarri.

The other Spaniard in the running, Xavi Vierge (Yamaha), finished in a worthy tenth position. The session left a bittersweet taste: the spectacle of Bulega's pole position, the good performance of the Spanish representation with Lecuona and Bautista in the top 5, and the worrying shadow of Oliveira's accident, a key player in the championship who now faces a recovery period and a race against the clock to be in the second race on Sunday.

This result further consolidates Bulega's dominance at the start of 2026. With this victory, he has 15 consecutive wins counting the end of the 2025 season and the start of the current one. In the championship, their advantage is already abysmal: 223 points. Lecuona remains his closest pursuer with 146, followed by Sam Lowes who, despite his bad day, is third with 89. Oliveira, before his fall, was fourth with 85, and Bautista rises to sixth place with 76.

The starting grid for Sunday's first race in Hungary is, therefore, with Bulega on pole, Lecuona at his side, and Baldasarri and Bautista on the second row. The main unknown lies in Oliveira's physical condition and whether the BMW team will be able to have him ready for tomorrow's double event. Meanwhile, the shadow of Bulega's unbeaten performance lengthens over the Hungaroring.

FAQ: Answers to the keys of the day in Hungary

What exactly happened to Miguel Oliveira?
Oliveira suffered a serious accident in turn 6 during the warm-up lap of Superpole. His motorcycle lost grip and went to the ground, hitting the barriers. He was evacuated with trauma to his left shoulder and taken to the hospital for evaluation. His participation in tomorrow's races is in doubt.

Why was Andrea Locatelli sanctioned?
The race direction considered that Locatelli was responsible for the multiple incident that also involved Oliveira and Lowes. For this reason, a penalty of two steps through the garage street (drive-through) was imposed on him, which he served at the restart, causing him to lose many positions.

Is Bulega's winning streak normal?
It is a level of mastery rarely seen. His 15 consecutive victories (counting the last ones in 2025 and those in 2026) reflect a combination of an extremely competitive bike, constant technical evolution and almost perfect rider consistency. He is breaking regularity records in the category.

How does Oliveira's accident affect the championship?
It is an important variable. Oliveira was fourth in the classification and the main representative of BMW. His absence, even for a single race, could allow other drivers like Baldasarri or Bautista to cut points, and weakens the fight for runner-up between factory teams.

What are the chances of Bulega losing in the races?
Technically, there is always a possibility in motorcycling. But to beat him, a combination is needed: a perfect start from a rival, a mistake on his part (very rare), or an external factor such as the weather or a fall. In the dry and with his current pace, he is the big favorite for the two races on Sunday.

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