Nicolò Bulega has turned Ducati’s centenary weekend into a WorldSBK statement by taking pole for the Lenovo Race of Champions at Misano.
The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider topped qualifying for the showcase event at World Ducati Week 2026, where Ducati’s MotoGP and Superbike names are sharing the same stage as the manufacturer celebrates 100 years since its foundation.
Bulega beats Ducati’s headline names
Bulega’s lap put him ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri and Francesco Bagnaia, leaving the front row with a distinctly Italian shape before Sunday’s race. It was also a pointed result for the WorldSBK side of Ducati’s operation, with Bulega outpacing several MotoGP regulars in identical Panigale V4 Tricolore machinery.
Qualifying reports placed Marc Marquez 12th, while Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio also sat behind Bulega on a grid packed with factory-level Ducati pedigree.
Why the result matters
This is not a championship round, but the optics are sharp. Bulega has already been central to Ducati’s Superbike project, and beating Ducati’s Grand Prix stars on centenary weekend strengthens his status as one of Borgo Panigale’s most valuable racing assets.
The Race of Champions runs on Sunday at Misano, giving Bagnaia and Marquez a chance to answer in front of Ducati’s home crowd. For now, though, Ducati’s biggest birthday weekend belongs to Bulega.
