Nicolo Bulega proved once again why he is the man to beat in WorldSBK 2026. The Ducati rider, strongly linked to a MotoGP move with VR46 for 2027, claimed his 24th win of the season in Race 1 at Magny-Cours, finishing ahead of Iker Lecuona and Sam Lowes.
The French round was marred by chaos, with multiple crashes and a red flag forcing a restart amidst high tension.
Early Chaos and Red Flag Drama
From the start, Lecuona snatched the lead from his teammate, but behind them, trouble brewed. Remy Gardner of GYTR GRT Yamaha was the first to fall after contact with Xavi Vierge. Somkiat Chantra also retired early after just one lap.
Miguel Oliveira, whose BMW contract extension was confirmed this weekend, crashed at Turn 8. Mattia Rato followed at Turn 3, while Stefano Manzi and Tom Bridewell also hit the deck. Bridewell's heavy fall at Turn 15 triggered the red flag, but fortunately he escaped with only a lip injury.
The race was stopped and restarted minutes later, setting the stage for Bulega's dominance.
Bulega Untouchable in France
On the restart, Lecuona again got the better of his teammate into the first corners, but Bulega quickly reclaimed P1 and built a commanding lead. He cruised to victory, also setting the fastest race lap of 1:35.030, breaking Toprak Razgatlioglu's 2025 benchmark.
This win further cements Bulega's status as a title favorite. With such consistent performance, a 2027 MotoGP switch seems increasingly inevitable.
Read Also
Iker Lecuona blames red flag for another WorldSBK defeat to Nicolo Bulega in France. Analysis of the race and prospects for Cremona.
Nicolo Bulega dominates WorldSBK Race 1 at Magny-Cours, but still targets 100 percent performance. Can Ducati be perfect on Sunday?
WorldSBK 2027: Valencia and Ningbo reportedly join the calendar, replacing Hungary and Jerez. China expansion is a key focus.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!