[WorldSBK] Held this weekend! Round 11 at Estoril sees Bulega & Ducati chasing major records

The 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) heads to the Estoril Circuit in Portugal for Round 11, starting on October 9th. Having already secured the title, Nicolo Bulega and Ducati are aiming to break even more historic records in this weekend's races.

Bulega challenges all-time win and consecutive records

The 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) reaches its 11th round at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal. Following the races in Cremona in September 2026, where Bulega's 2026 championship victory was reported, his momentum shows no signs of stopping. He has already secured 26 wins this season, putting him just one victory away from the all-time record of 27 wins in a single season set by Alvaro Bautista in 2023. Furthermore, if he wins all races at Estoril and the final round in Jerez, he will reach 52 career wins, tying him with Troy Bayliss and moving him into 5th place on the all-time list.

He also holds overwhelming numbers in consecutive records. He is currently on a streak of 43 consecutive podium finishes, which is the longest in history. His streak of 43 consecutive points-scoring finishes is the second-longest in history, behind Jonathan Rea's 48. Additionally, he has led every lap in 17 races this season and has achieved 16 Grand Slams (leading every lap from pole position while setting the fastest lap), both of which are new all-time records. At Magny-Cours, he also achieved his 11th hat-trick (three wins in a weekend), tying him with Toprak Razgatlioglu.

This season has seen a fierce battle for the top spot between Bulega and Iker Lecuona, with the two sharing all the victories between them. They have only conceded second place to rivals four times, with Yari Montella and Axel Bassani each taking it twice.

Ducati's winning streak and the battle at Estoril

As a manufacturer, Ducati is having a record-breaking season. With their victory in Cremona, they became the first manufacturer in history to win 30 races in a single season. They are currently on a 34-race winning streak, closing in on their own all-time record of 35 consecutive wins set between 2003 and 2004. They are also continuing their streaks of 20 consecutive podium lockouts, 35 consecutive fastest laps, and 11 consecutive pole positions. In the last six races, they have locked out the top four, another unprecedented feat.

On the other hand, Estoril is one of the few circuits where Ducati has never secured a pole position. While they have taken pole at 54 circuits, their best result at Estoril has been starting from second place on four occasions (1993, 2021, 2024, and 2025), making their first pole position at this event a point of interest. However, they hold the record for the most podium finishes at Estoril with 22, surpassing Yamaha's 14, and they lead in total wins with 6, ahead of Kawasaki and BMW with 4 each.

Estoril has seen 18 different riders stand on the podium in the last 19 races, making it a highly unpredictable venue. It is also the only circuit in WorldSBK history to have produced five different winners in its first five races. The record for most wins at the track is held by Razgatlioglu with 6, followed by Rea with 4 and Bulega with 2.

Razgatlioglu is the only rider to have stood on the podium there with BMW. In the 2024 Superpole Race, Bulega engaged in a fierce battle, defeating Razgatlioglu by 0.003 seconds, the closest finish in WorldSBK history. Another intense race is expected this weekend.

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