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WorldSBK: Bulega Heads Friday Practice At Magny-Cours

By Mathilde Gasnier
By Mathilde Gasnier

WorldSBK: Bulega Heads Friday Practice At Magny-Cours

© 2026, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By Mathilde Gasnier.

Categories:
Motorcycle HistoryMotorcycle Industry NewsRacingInternationalWorld Superbike
image
Nicolo Bulega (11) at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy WSBK.

Nicolò Bulega led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Italian rider covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track in 1:35.916 to lead the field of 21 riders.

Yari Montella was second-best with a 1:36.041 on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R. 

Sam Lowes was third with a 1:36.131 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.

American Garrett Gerloff was 8th with a time of 1:36.404 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. 

Danilo Petrucci was 18th on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR with a time of 1:37.023. 

 

FP2 WSBK

 

More, from a press release issued by WSBK:

FRIDAY REPORT: Bulega beats Sam Lowes and Lecuona on Friday at Magny-Cours, Vierge claims P4. The Italian rider continued to show his pace despite missing the early stages of FP1 with a tech issue. 

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped both sessions in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours as he laid down a gauntlet to his rivals. ‘Bulegas’ finished 0.284s clear of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) on the opening day of the Acerbis French Round, while Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the top three despite an FP2 crash.

 

 

 

ROLLERCOASTER DAY FOR DUCATI…

Bulega had a disrupted start to the day when he had an electrical issue on his Panigale V4 R machine, but lost little running time compared to his rivals. He topped both FP1 and FP2 as he looks to add to his Magny-Cours win count, with his 1’35.556s from FP1 good enough to top the combined timesheets. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was second overall and, like Bulega, didn’t improve his time in FP2, as he lapped just under three tenths slower than ‘Bulegas’. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed third overall despite a crash at Turn 11 in FP2, setting a 1’35.989s in FP1 to claim a top-three spot. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was fifth with a 1’36.041s ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) and Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing), while Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) finished in 15thplace.

 

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Sam Lowes (14) at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy WSBK.

 

 

VIERGE IN THE TOP FOUR

Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was the fastest Yamaha rider after he used a fresh SCX tyre at the end of FP1 to haul himself up the order, setting a 1’36.035s to claim fourth. The #97 was also strong in FP2 with a 1’36.289s, putting him sixth in that session. Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and teammate Remy Gardner were closely matched in 13th and 14th, separated by just 0.004s, while it was a tough day for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha). The #55, working with new crew chief Emanuele Martinelli this weekend, was 20th on the combined times and didn’t get much running in FP2 when he had a tech issue. His best time was a 1’37.384s; he finished a tenth away from Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team). Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) had two crashes on Friday. In FP1, he crashed at Turns 1 and 2 but was able to re-join the session. In FP2, he crashed at the same point, but this time was taken to the medical centre after a heavy fall in the gravel trap. He was declared unfit with a concussion, and will have further assessments in hospital.

 

OLIVEIRA LEADS BMW’S CHARGE

Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), fresh from inking a new multi-year deal with BMW, claimed eighth place with a 1’36.396s. Teammate Danilo Petrucci, who announced he would leave BMW at the end of the season, finished Friday’s action in 12th place with a 1’36.511s.

 

STRONG START FOR KAWASAKI

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) appears to be a top-ten contender or better this weekend. The #31 set his best time in Free Practice 1, like the majority of the field, with his 1’36.404s good enough to claim ninth place. The #31 showed his pace particularly in Sectors 2 and 3, being the quickest riders through those sections in FP2.

 

BIMOTA IN THE TOP TEN

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was the faster of the Bimota riders as he set a 1’36.451s although there was little to separate him from teammate Axel Bassani. The Italian manufacturer’s duo were quick to improve on their FP1 time but they finished in 10th and 16th respectively, but Bassani was just two tenths behind the #22.

 

HONDA JUST MISS OUT…

Honda had a stronger showing on Friday than in previous rounds. In both sessions, Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) was close to the top ten, eventually finishing in 11th place with a 1’36.451s, while teammate Somkiat Chantra was 18th with a 1’36.734s; the small gap on the timesheets putting six places between them. The Thai rider had a crash in the final few minutes of FP2 at Turn 3.

 

The top six from Friday’s WorldSBK running, full results here:

  1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’35.556s
  2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.284s
  3. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.433s
  4. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.479s
  5. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.485s
  6. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +0.589s

Don’t miss Saturday’s Magny-Cours action starting from 09:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!

 

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