Pirelli Portuguese Round Free Practice 3

Date
Sat 28th March 2026 (UTC)
Sat 28th March 2026 (Local)

Timestamp
2026-03-28T08:48:00

Time

08:48:00 UTC (09:48:00 Local)

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League
SBK

Season
2026

Round
2

Status
Match Finished

Location
Algarve International Circuit

Video Highlights

Event Statistics

Description

The Saturday morning action at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve marks the final opportunity for the World Superbike field to fine-tune their machines before the high-stakes Tissot Superpole. The primary challenge in this brief 20-minute session is the cooler track surface, which often yields the fastest lap times of the weekend but offers less feedback regarding afternoon race durability. The objective for the riders is to verify qualifying setups and confirm their choice of the Pirelli SCQ or SCX development tires.

Strategically, FP3 is about confidence and precision. The goal for Sam Lowes, who dominated Friday’s proceedings, is to maintain his momentum, while the chasing pack—led by championship leader Nicolò Bulega—aims to bridge the quarter-second gap found in practice. The tactical focus for the Barni Spark Racing Team is to build on the impressive form shown by Yari Montella, who has consistently challenged the factory Ducati pairing. For the riders on the bubble of the top ten, the session is a critical "dress rehearsal" to ensure they can find a clear track and execute a perfect flying lap when the lights go green for qualifying.

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Result List

Result Description

Iker Lecuona delivered a statement performance on Saturday morning, March 28, 2026, by topping the final practice session for the first time in his Ducati career. Lecuona’s objective was to convert his Friday potential into raw pace, and he succeeded by clocking a blistering 1'39.186. This lap was less than a tenth of a second away from the absolute pole record, placing him a significant 0.419 seconds clear of his nearest rival and establishing him as a favorite for the front row.

The session was a showcase for the Ducati Panigale V4R, with Yari Montella securing second place to complete a 1-2 for the Italian manufacturer. Home hero Miguel Oliveira kept the local fans on their feet by finishing third fastest on his BMW, despite suffering a minor lowside crash at the tricky Turn 5 hairpin with just minutes remaining. Nicolò Bulega and Friday pacesetter Sam Lowes completed the top five, though both struggled to match Lecuona’s standout speed in the cooler conditions. With the top six riders all dipping into the 1'39s bracket, the stage is set for a historic Superpole battle as the sun begins to warm the Portimão circuit.

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