Iker Lecuona has openly admitted that he feels disappointed to see his toughest rival leave the production-based championship ahead of next season. Despite having to acknowledge his competitor's absolute dominance on the track, the Spanish rider actually wanted their intense on-track battle to continue in WorldSBK for 2026.
The decision by Nicolo Bulega to leave the Superbike world championship in order to join the VR46 squad in MotoGP has been a major talking point throughout the paddock. Over the course of the season, the Ducati factory rider successfully secured a record-breaking 32 wins out of 36 races, including an impressive hat-trick during the season finale at the Jerez circuit.
Reflecting on the departure of his main rival, Lecuona—who claimed four wins this season at Donington Park and Cremona—stated that he would rather continue racing against the very best. Speaking to WorldSBK.com, he honestly confessed that he is not pleased with the move because Bulega pushed him to his absolute limits all year long.
"Honestly, no. On one side maybe, yes, but if someone is better than you then I want to race with him," Lecuona said regarding the departure. He further added, "I feel sad that he is leaving because he pushed me so hard. I’m happy for him, like I said many times. He did an amazing season."
Lecuona acknowledged that while they are not close friends away from the circuit, they share a solid professional relationship. Their fierce on-track battles were described as aggressive yet maintained within safe margins to avoid any costly crashes.
Looking ahead, a fresh challenge awaits Lecuona in the Aruba.it Ducati garage next season as he prepares to face Franco Morbidelli, who is stepping in to fill the seat left vacant by Bulega. The Jerez season finale also highlighted Lecuona's resilience as he bounced back from a difficult Saturday in Race 1 by making crucial adjustments to his bike setup and riding style for the remainder of the weekend.
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