Nicolo Bulega is on the verge of securing his second WorldSBK championship at the Italian Round at Cremona this weekend. The Ducati rider holds a commanding 146-point lead over his only remaining title rival, Iker Lecuona, and has his first mathematical shot at the crown in Race 1 on Saturday.
Bulega’s dominance in 2026 has been absolute: nine pole positions and 26 wins from 27 races, with only Lecuona able to beat him in Race 1 at Donington. That consistency has given him a massive points buffer, and now the title permutations are clear.
To win the championship in Race 1 at Cremona, Bulega needs a 161-point lead at the chequered flag. That means if he wins, Lecuona must finish sixth or lower. A second place for Bulega would require Lecuona to be 11th or worse, while a third for Bulega would need Lecuona down in 15th or lower. Any finish outside the top three for Bulega on Saturday would push the title fight to Sunday.
Given that the two Ducati riders have finished 1-2 in all but one race since round two, it’s unlikely Bulega will seal the deal on Saturday. Sunday offers more opportunities: Bulega would need a 149-point lead after the Superpole Race or a 124-point lead after Race 2. Of course, the exact scenario depends on Race 1 results.
The big unknown this weekend is Bulega’s fitness. He crashed while testing the 850cc Ducati MotoGP bike at Mugello and was taken to hospital. No major injuries have been reported, but he missed this week’s post-race MotoGP test in Austria. His physical condition could play a role in his performance at Cremona.
Bulega’s first world title came in 2023 in World Supersport with Ducati, which earned him a step up to the Aruba.it Racing Ducati team in WorldSBK for 2024. After finishing runner-up to Toprak Razgatlioglu in 2024 and 2025, he has been nearly untouchable in 2026. With eight races remaining after Cremona, it seems only a matter of time before he is crowned champion.
Lecuona will be doing everything he can to delay the inevitable, but with Ducati’s dominance and Bulega’s consistency, the 2026 WorldSBK title looks set to land in the Italian’s hands sooner rather than later.
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