As of 17:00 local time, the lap times recorded at the Portimao World Superbike test at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve highlight the results of a rainy test day. Nicolo Bulega claimed the fastest lap in the morning session with a time of 1 minute 59.144 seconds, which was 0.6 seconds quicker than teammate Iker Lecuona. On Thursday morning, only the two Ducati factory riders managed to break the two-minute barrier.
Jake Dixon placed third on his primary bike and fourth on his secondary machine, with WorldSBK newcomer Alberto Sula securing a spot inside the top five. This testing session concludes the European phase of the 2026 WorldSBK preseason. The riders will next compete at Phillip Island on February 16-17 for the final winter test before the season officially kicks off at the Australian round from February 20-22.
Top 3 at 17:00
- Nicolo Bulega (ITA) – Aruba.it Racing Ducati – Ducati Panigale V4 R – 1:59.144
- Iker Lecuona (ESP) – Aruba.it Racing Ducati – Ducati Panigale V4 R – 1:59.183
- Jake Dixon (GBR) – Honda HRC – Honda CBR1000RR-R – 2:00.111
The test results reveal the dominance of Ducati in the wet conditions, but close competition from Honda and other teams remains evident. The field’s performance at Phillip Island will be crucial for teams to finalize their setups ahead of the opening race weekend.
Fan Take:
This test showcases Ducati’s strong form early in the preseason, but the close lap times from riders like Jake Dixon suggest a fiercely competitive championship battle ahead. For racing fans, these developments promise thrilling action and intense rivalries throughout the 2026 World Superbike season.
