Pirelli Portuguese Round Superpole

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

Timestamp
2026-03-28T11:15:00

Time

11:15:00 UTC (11:15:00 Local)

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League
SBK

Season
2026

Round
2

Status
Match Finished

Location
Algarve International Circuit

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Event Statistics

Description

The qualifying battle at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve provides a crucial 15-minute sprint to determine the grid for Race 1 and the Superpole Race. The primary challenge for the field is the high-grip nature of the Pirelli SCQ qualifying tires combined with Portimão’s aggressive elevation changes, which can lead to unpredictable wheelies and stability issues over the blind crests. The objective for the championship leader, Nicolò Bulega, is to secure back-to-back poles to start the season, while Iker Lecuona looks to capitalize on his record-breaking pace from the morning's final practice.

Strategically, the 15-minute session is a test of timing and track position. The goal for the riders is to find a "clean" lap without traffic, as the technical nature of the final sector makes overtaking during a flying lap nearly impossible. The tactical focus for the Barni Spark Racing Team remains on Yari Montella, who has shown exceptional single-lap speed throughout the weekend. For local star Miguel Oliveira, the ultimate goal is a front-row start to satisfy the massive home crowd and put his BMW in a prime position to challenge for a podium in the afternoon's opening race.

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Result List

Result Description

Nicolò Bulega snatched a dramatic pole position on Saturday, March 28, 2026, by outpacing his teammate in the final seconds of the session. Bulega’s objective was to overhaul a massive marker laid down by Iker Lecuona, who had set a new all-time lap record early in his second stint. On his very last flying lap, Bulega clocked a staggering 1'38.495, besting Lecuona by 0.142 seconds and becoming the first Italian rider in WorldSBK history to record more than 10 career pole positions.

The session resulted in an all-Ducati front row, as Yari Montella secured third place, marking his second consecutive front-row start of the season. Miguel Oliveira maintained a strong pace to finish fourth, delighting the local fans by being faster than the previous lap record, though he was forced to settle for a second-row start alongside Sam Lowes and Xavi Vierge. The top ten was completed by the Lowes brothers, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Danilo Petrucci, and Axel Bassani, with the top six riders all remarkably within seven-tenths of Bulega's record-shattering pace.

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