Live updates from the Superpole Race at the 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK at Portimao, round two of the 2026 season. The Superpole Race is due to start at 11:10 local time, with Race 2 coming up this afternoon at 15:30.
Nicolo Bulega claimed victory in this morning's Superpole Race and enters Race 2 this afternoon as the clear favourite, having won all three races in Australia comfortably and cruised to victory in Race 1 yesterday as well.
It looked set to be a Ducati podium lockout in Race 1, but Yari Montella's crash at turn 14 on lap five allowed Miguel Oliveira to grab his first World Superbike podium at his home round, the BMW rider finishing behind Bulega and the second factory Panigale of Iker Lecuona. It was the same order on the podium in the Superpole Race this morning, Lecuona finishing second despite dropping to sixth at the start.
Alex Lowes was also fourth in both races and Sam Lowes fifth, the latter battling back to a top-five after dropping to seventh early on.
The major change to the order at the front of the grid for Race 2 this afternoon is that Yari Montella starts from the second row in sixth after his Superpole Race result. He was in the mix for the podium at least yesterday before his crash, but will need a good start this afternoon to be in the mix with Oliveira and the factory Ducatis.
Jonathan Rea has made his return to racing this weekend, but his first race as Honda test rider went poorly, the Northern Irishman finishing down in 19th. He was only one place better in the Superpole Race this morning. His teammate, Somkiat Chantra, also had his first race of the season yesterday and finished 18th; he then crashed out of the Superpole Race this morning.
Jonathan Rea says he "wasn't ready" for the WorldSBK weekend in Portimao.
He was unable to get into the top-10 all weekend, and afterwards he revealed that he was struggling physically to get through the race distances.
Full story here.
Miguel Oliveira says there is "happiness" at BMW but the Portuguese is not satisfied with finishing third.
The Portuguese added that he is optimistic about the next round in Assen despite Toprak Razgatlioglu's struggles there last year.
Full story here.
Nicolo Bulega has hailed his Portuguese weekend as "special" after maintaining his 100% winning record in 2026.
The Italian now leads the championship by 56 points over his teammate, Lecuona.
Full story here.
Iker Lecuona says he achieved his "real target" at the Portuguese Round, where he was on the podium in all three races this weekend.
The Spaniard also gained the praise of his teammate, who also acknowledged that Lecuona has the equipment available to him to achieve top results in WorldSBK.
Full story here.
Nicolo Bulega thanked his team for the work done this weekend after his Race 2 win, following on from what he felt was a difficult start to the weekend on Friday.
"I'm really happy," he said in his parc ferme interview.
"Thanks to all the fans here for coming to see us and thanks to my team also because we did a very great work all the weekend. Finally, another hattrick and looking forward for the next one."
Iker Lecuona has declared himself "really happy" after taking his third podium from three races this weekend.
"Three of three. Really happy," he told the world feed broadcast in parc ferme.
"Every day I did more steps, even today we are more close to my teammate, so we are happy about that, we are happy about the team. I'm really happy for them because we did 1-2 all the weekend, so that's incredible. I can say only thanks to everyone."
Miguel Oliveira says it was a "very positive weekend" for him in Portugal, after finishing on the podium in all three races this weekend.
"It was a good weekend," Oliveira told the world feed broadcast in parc ferme.
"Finally, to come on the podium three times - it's a very positive weekend. As I said this morning, I knew it was going to be really tough this afternoon to fight the two fastest guys, but also I had a handful with Alex [Lowes] as well; he kept the pressure on me for many laps.
"But even though I was struggling I just tried to keep it as fast as possible to be able to cross the finish line in third. It's a step forward. Had fun, and looking forward to the next weekend."
Victory again for Nicolo Bulega in Race 2 at Portimao.
Lecuona makes it three podiums from three this weekend.
Lowes closed back in on Oliveira on the last lap but couldn't make a move, so it's an identical top-five to yesterday with Sam Lowes fifth.
Baldassarri completes the top-six, then Petrucci, Bassani, Locatelli, and Gardner in the top-10 after a crash for Gerloff on the last lap.
Bulega still with that 2s buffer over Lecuona as we enter the final lap, and Oliveira has gapped Alex Lowes by around half-a-second now.
Sam Lowes' pace has dropped off and he's set for another P5.
2s now for Bulega at the front
Further back, Rato is out as well, turn four for him. Both Motoxracing bikes out now as well.
Alex Lowes increasing the pressure on Oliveira for third, but Sam Lowes is coming, too. Only 1s separating the Marc VDS rider from the podium battle now.
Montella is back out on track. Down in 18th and a few laps down by now as well.
1.6s for Bulega at the front.
Still that half-second or so between Oliveira and Lowes. Sam Lowes kind of closing in on that but not consistently. Pace overall is fairly similar between them.
Bautista back in the pits. Looks like he's done for the day. So is Montella. Not a good day for Barni.
Bulega now over a second clear at the front over Lecuona.
Oliveira now almost 2s behind Leucona and 0.6s clear of Lowes. Battle for third is not done yet as we enter the second half of the race.
Another crasher: Bautista down now and again at turn five. He's back on but looks like he'll be coming back to the pits.
Tarran Mackenzie has crashed out at turn 13. Looks like he was trying to get back on but not in much of a hurry.
Oliveira dropping back from Lecuona and Lowes is sticking with him for now. A long way to go yet, though.
Another crash at turn five, Bahattin Sofuoglu this time. His second crash there this weekend and his second crash of the day after he went down in the Superpole Race at turn 13.
Montella has returned to the pits following his crash. Has the laptop plugged in outside the box so maybe he can get back out and finish the race.
Surra has crashed at turn 13. Looks okay but he's out.
Bulega out to nearly a second in front now.
Montella's crash means Sam Lowes up back up to fifth, where he's finished both races so far this weekend.
Bassani then in P6, before Baldassarri, Bautista, Petrucci, and Locatelli in the top-10.
Both Montella and Vierge remounted, by the way.