Ducati Secures Another 1-2 Finish During WorldSBK Race 1 at Magny-Cours

Nicolò Bulega takes victory after a red-flagged thriller, while teammate Iker Lecuona finishes second to complete Ducati’s 21st one-two result of the 2026 WorldSBK season.

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The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team continued its dominant 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship campaign with another impressive one-two finish in Race 1 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France.

Nicolò Bulega crossed the finish line in first place after a dramatic race that featured intense battles, multiple crashes, and a red flag, while teammate Iker Lecuona secured second to deliver the team’s 21st one-two finish of the season.

Race 1 Interrupted by Red Flag

Starting from pole position, Bulega made a strong launch but immediately found himself under pressure from Lecuona, who started third on the grid. The Ducati teammates exchanged positions and pushed each other to the limit during the opening laps, treating fans to one of the most exciting battles of the weekend.

The race was then halted on lap nine following an incident that brought out the red flag, forcing riders to prepare for a restart. Despite the interruption, both Aruba.it Racing – Ducati riders maintained their focus and were once again at the front when the race resumed.

Bulega Breaks Lap Record on the Way to Victory

At the restart, Lecuona once again made an excellent getaway to take the lead. However, while defending his position from Sam Lowes, the Spanish rider lost valuable ground to Bulega.

The championship leader wasted no time in making his move. On just the second lap after the restart, Bulega produced a stunning lap time of 1:35.030, smashing the previous Superpole Race lap record set at Magny-Cours by nearly half a second.

From there, the Italian rider controlled the race, steadily extending his advantage before taking another important victory for Ducati. Lecuona maintained a consistent pace to secure second place, ensuring another perfect result for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad.

Bulega Delighted After Red-Flag Challenge

Bulega admitted that maintaining concentration after the race interruption was one of the biggest challenges but was pleased with the pace he showed after the restart.

“I’m really happy with this win, especially because when a race is interrupted by a red flag, staying focused is never easy. I was confident I could do well, even though I knew Iker would be very fast at the start. After the red flag, I kept a strong pace, and that gives me great satisfaction,” said Bulega.

Lecuona Sees Positive Progress Ahead of Race 2

Although unable to match Bulega’s pace after the restart, Lecuona was encouraged by the improvements made compared to the Superpole session and believes there is still room for further progress.

“I have to say I’m satisfied with Race 1, especially because we made a step forward in terms of feeling compared to Superpole. In the opening laps, Nicolò and I had a great battle, but after the second start I couldn’t match his pace. We’ll study the data and work to make another step tomorrow,” Lecuona explained.

Ducati Extends Its Winning Momentum

The one-two finish further highlights Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s remarkable consistency throughout the 2026 WorldSBK season. With Bulega continuing his winning form and Lecuona delivering another strong podium performance, Ducati heads into Sunday’s races with momentum firmly on its side as the Magny-Cours weekend continues.