Phillip Island, Australia
Nicolò Bulega opened the 2026 Superbike World Championship in the most dominant fashion possible, claiming a perfect Hat Trick at Phillip Island: pole position, victory in Race 1, the Superpole Race, and Race 2.
In Superpole he secured his third consecutive pole at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, gapping Yari Montella by over four tenths and completing an all-Ducati front row with Sam Lowes. In Race 1 he dominated from start to finish, crossing the line 4.776 seconds ahead of Montella. Lorenzo Baldassarri and Axel Bassani completed the podium with their respective maiden rostrums of the season.
In the Superpole Race, despite a poor start that dropped him to fourth, Bulega methodically worked his way through the field, reaching the front by lap four and never being challenged from then on.
In Race 2, held in wet conditions, he demonstrated extraordinary versatility by winning in the rain too — confirming that the Panigale V4R and its rider are the combination to beat in any conditions.
"This is the start to the season I dreamed of. We worked hard over the winter to come here ready. The team did an incredible job and the bike is exactly where I wanted it", Bulega commented at the end of the Australian weekend.
Three wins from three, maximum points. The championship continues with the Portimão round in Portugal.
