Superbike Donington Park: Last hurdle to overcome for Nicolo Bulega...

The eighth round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, played at Donington Park from July 10 to 12, represents a final challenge for Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), the British circuit being in fact the only track on the current calendar where the Italian has never won.

Nicolò Bulega remains undefeated in 2026 with 434 points scored in the first seven rounds. He arrives at Donington Park with 121-point lead on his teammate Iker Lecuona, but on the only circuit on the WorldSBK calendar where he is still missing a victory.
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) occupies second place in the championship with 313 points and arrives in the United Kingdom on an incredible run of 18 consecutive second places, all behind Bulega. This series constitutes a absolute record in WorldSBK, just like the 18 consecutive Ducati one-two finishes performed by the two pilots.
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) completes the Top 3 of the championship with 170 pointsAfter securing three podium finishes at Misano, the Italian hopes to do much better than in 2025, when his best performance at Donington was only a 13th place.
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) enters his national round in fourth position in the championship and as the best non-Ducati rider. He possesses eight points ahead about his brother Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in mourningpromising a new family duel on British soil.

The latest news from the paddock

Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) is expected to make its return to competition after missing the Emilia-Romagna round in order to continue its rehabilitation.
Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) also hopes to return to competition after his injury, subject to successfully passing the mandatory medical examination before the start of the weekend.
Dixon and Petrucci both took part in private tests in the UK to assess their fitness ahead of this British round.

The stakes of the weekend

By winning Race 1, the Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2, Nicholas Bulega would equal the absolute record of 11 triplets detained by Toprak RazgatlıoğluThe Italian currently shares second place in this ranking with Alvaro Bautista, both of which have ten triplets.
Bulega also remains on eight consecutive pole positions, thus equaling the record set by Jonathan Rea between Aragón and Magny-Cours in 2021.
Ducati could win the title Manufacturers 2026 from the Tissot Superpole Raceprovided that it is marked 31 points more than Bimota over the course of Race 1 and the Superpole Race. If this is not the case, the Italian manufacturer will have another opportunity to clinch the title in Race 2 by increasing its lead over bimota by at least six points over the weekend.
Aruba.it Racing – Ducati could also ensure the Teams title at Donington Park. A first opportunity will present itself as early as Race 1, provided you register 26 points more that bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team.

British pilots in the spotlight

Local fans will have several reasons to rejoice with the presence of the brothers Alex and Sam Lowes, as well as Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing), all competing on home soil.
Alongside them, the rookie Thomas Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) will contest its national round with a Ducati Panigale V4 R. sporting a special decoration in the colors of theUnion Jack.
La Prosecco DOC UK Round It also serves as the home event for several UK-based teams, including Pata Maxus Yamaha, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team et Superbike Advocates.

Schedules (French time)

Friday July 10