Nicolo Bulega was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 (FP1) Friday morning at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his Pirelli-shod Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R on the 2.63-mile (4.23 km) track, the Italian recorded a 1:32.733 to lead the field of 22 riders.
His teammate, Iker Lecuona, was the best of the rest with a 1:32.792.
Sam Lowes was third-fastest with a 1:33.039 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 9th with a 1:33.640 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Results WSBK FP1
More from a press release issued by WorldSBK:
Bulega lays down a gauntlet in FP1 as he tops the opening session at Misano, Lecuona P2 and Sam Lowes P3.
The Championship leader was 0.059s clear of his rivals during the opening Free Practice session of the weekend.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” by less than a tenth ahead of teammate Iker Lecuona, while Sam Lowes completed an all-Ducati top-three as the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round got underway.
Bulega was quick out of the blocks as he surged to the top of the timesheets, eventually topping the times with a 1’32.733s as he claimed an early P1 in the first session of his home round. He was directly ahead of teammate Lecuona, who set a 1’32.792s to secure second; the factory Ducati duo were the only riders in the 1’32s bracket. Sam Lowes completed the top three, missing out on a 1’32s time by just 0.039s.
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will look to take a podium on home soil for the first time in WorldSBK this weekend and he started with P4 in Free Practice 1, setting a 1’33.115s. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) put in a couple of late, fast laps to move up to P5 with a 1’33.135s, just 0.020s behind Montella and four tenths away from Bulega. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) rounded out the top six.
Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) claimed Yamaha honours in FP1 with seventh place, posting a 1’33.446s. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) has been quick at Misano in the past and will hope to repeat that in 2026, starting off his weekend with P8, nine tenths away from Bulega. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team), fresh from a 2027 contract in his pocket, claimed ninth ahead of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who completed the top ten.
Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made his WorldSBK return at Misano, with the #88 finishing in 17th place with a 1’34.125s. He finished less than a tenth behind teammate Michael van der Mark, who is replacing Danilo Petrucci this weekend. Ryan Vickers (Honda HRC), replacing Jake Dixon, was 21st.
The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’32.733s
- Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.059s
- Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.306s
- Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.382s
- Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +0.402s
- Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +0.601s
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