2026 Australian WorldSBK: Nicolo Bulega seals treble at Phillip Island

Nicolo Bulega completed a sweep of victories at the 2026 Australian WorldSBK after dominating rain-hit Race 2 vaulting him to a comfortable championship lead.

The Italian rider, astride the Aruba.it Ducati Panigale V4R, not only secured pole position but led every lap across Race 1, the Superpole Race, and Race 2, leaving the competition scrambling in his wake amid variable weather and high-stakes battles.

Race 2 turned out to be a chaotic 22-lap affair transformed by pre-race rain that forced a full wet tire switch, turning Phillip Island into a treacherous skidpan under darkening skies.

Bulega, starting from pole once more after topping the Superpole Race grid reversal, nailed another perfect launch, holding the lead through the slippery Turn 1 ahead of Axel Bassani’s Bimota Kawasaki.

Unlike the dry races this encounter demanded constant adaptation as spray reduced visibility and standing water claimed victims, yet Bulega remained unflappable, charging with metronomic precision to build an unassailable lead that peaked at 11.336 seconds by the flag.

Axel Bassani inherited second after Yari Montella’s late crash from the position, the Barni rider highsiding at Turn 9 in the closing stages while pushing to close the gap.

Alvaro Bautista salvaged his weekend with a masterful recovery from 11th to third, slicing through the pack on his Barni Ducati with veteran nous—overtaking Locatelli and Lowes early, then Redding and Petrucci in a double move that showcased the Panigale’s wet-weather traction.

Tarran Mackenzie delivered his career-best fourth on the Petronas Honda, hounding Bassani until Alex Lowes’ crash at Turn 3 while battling for the spot ended the Brit’s charge prematurely.

Andrea Locatelli faded from an early top-three push to fifth, while Danilo Petrucci edged Miguel Oliveira in a teammate duel for sixth—Petrucci breaking free mid-race before Oliveira’s last-lap pass on Iker Lecuona netted seventh for the Portuguese rookie.

Lecuona dropped to eighth, his debut weekend ending on a high note despite the conditions, ahead of a hard-charging Lorenzo Baldassarri on the Go Eleven Ducati, as Garrett Gerloff survived multiple slides on the Kawasaki to round out the top ten.

2026 WorldSBK Championship Standings after Australian Round

WorldSBK 2026 calendar: All venues and dates

Full 2026 Australian WorldSBK Race 2 Results

Full 2026 Australian WorldSBK Superpole Race Results

Full 2026 Australian WorldSBK Race 1 Results