The 2026 WorldSBK season has roared to life at Phillip Island, and if the opening sessions are any indication, the road to the title still runs directly through Nicolo Bulega.
The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider maintained his “imperious” form on Friday, sweeping both Free Practice sessions after a flawless pre-season test earlier in the week. Despite his 0.496-second cushion over the field, the Italian remains wary of a select group of challengers ready to disrupt his perfect record at the Australian circuit.
Phillip Island has become a spiritual home for Bulega. Since his historic debut victory here in 2024, the “Martinator of WorldSBK” has looked untouchable, culminating in a dominant triple-win sweep in 2025. This year, the script looks similar; Bulega was the only rider to dip into the 1:28s during FP1, clocking a blistering 1:28.858 on the penultimate lap of a 12-lap long run. While he noted that rising track temperatures in the afternoon made the bike harder to manage, a series of setup refinements to the updated 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R have given him the confidence he needs heading into Saturday’s Race 1.
The Chasing Pack: Bimota and the Lowes Threat
While the timesheets suggest a comfortable gap, Bulega was quick to identify three specific riders who possess the race pace to challenge him: Alex Lowes, Axel Bassani, and Sam Lowes.
The Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team has emerged as the primary threat to Ducati’s supremacy. Alex Lowes, a three-time winner at Phillip Island, finished the day second overall with a 1:29.354. Despite a late lowside crash at Turn 4 in FP2, the British rider displayed worrying consistency during a 14-lap race simulation. His teammate, Axel Bassani, silenced doubters by securing the fourth-fastest time, proving that the new Bimota KB998 Rimini is already a podium-capable machine in the hands of “El Bocia.”
Splitting the Bimota duo was Sam Lowes, who continues to excel as an independent rider for the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team. The #14 Ducati rider overcame his own tumble at the high-speed Turn 4 to finish third on the combined sheets, just 0.524 seconds adrift of Bulega. With three Ducatis and two Bimotas occupying the top five spots, the stage is set for a high-speed showdown that could see the closest opening-round battle in years.
The 2026 Ducati: Evolution over Revolution
Bulega’s performance is even more impressive considering he is still “dialing in” the heavily revamped 2026 Panigale V4 R. This year’s model marks a radical departure for the Borgo Panigale factory, most notably abandoning the signature single-sided swingarm in favor of a double-sided hollow symmetrical swingarm designed to handle the extreme lateral loads of modern Pirelli slicks.
The bike also features advanced ground-effect “Corner Sidepods” derived from Ducati’s MotoGP program, which are intended to provide extra stability at the massive lean angles required for Phillip Island’s flowing curves. While Bulega admitted there are still areas where he is “not 100% happy,” his ability to set record-challenging pace while still experimenting with settings is a ominous sign for the rest of the paddock.