Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) claimed his first pole position at the Circuito Estoril in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship ahead of teammate Iker Lecuona, while Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) prevented an all-Ducati front row by putting his Bimota machine in third. Home hero Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) goes from fifth at the Tissot Estoril Round after a record-breaking Tissot Superpole session.
THE FIRST RUN
Oliveira laid down a gauntlet on his first run with a 1’34.651s, although Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) did beat that on his first flying lap with a 1’34.511s as he moved into provisional pole. However, both times were immediately bettered by four tenths as Bulega set a new pole lap record with a 1’34.105s for P1. Lecuona was also able to get himself into the first row, provisionally demoting Oliveira onto the second row.
BULEGA TAKES DUCATI’S FIRST ESTORIL POLE
As the second run got underway, Bulega was able to extend his advantage at the head of the field by going two tenths quicker to set a barely believable 1’33.884s to make it 10 poles from 11 this season, and claiming Ducati’s first pole at Estoril. Lecuona found time on his second run to set a 1’34.041s, under the previous lap record, to move into second. Alex Lowes had provisionally gone into second before Lecuona demoted him, but he was able to secure a front row start with third.
OLIVEIRA GOES FROM P5
Surra was unable to improve his time on his second run and he fell to fourth, narrowly missing out on a third front row start of the season. Oliveira will start from fifth place as he searches for more home rostrums after his three P3s at Portimao earlier in the season. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was unable to set a time in his second stint with the #5 after missing out on crossing the line before the chequered flag fell, but Montella will start from sixth; he set a 1’34.747s for a second row start.
A BEST SUPERPOLE RESULT FOR DIXON
Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) followed Lecuona around as he set his best lap time, posting a 1’34.788s to secure his best Superpole result of this season as he’ll lead away the third row. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) will join the #96 in the top nine as he set a 1’34.839s, just half-a-tenth away from Dixon. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) will go from ninth with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) rounding out the top ten.
The top six from WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1’33.884s
- Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.157s
- Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.546s
- Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +0.627s
- Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.665s
- Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.863s
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