2026 Portuguese WorldSBK Race 2 Reaction LIVE: Bulega completed Portimao treble

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.

Key Moments

• Bulega takes third win from three in Portugal
• Oliveira on the podium for a third time
• Lecuona completes Ducati 1-2
• Top-five the same in all three races

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.