Superpole for Round 1 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship delivered another dominant performance from Nicolò Bulega, who secured his third consecutive pole position at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in hot and challenging conditions.
With the 15-minute session deciding the grid for this afternoon’s 22-lap Race 1, riders were greeted by a track temperature of 42.2 degrees under clear blue skies. The morning’s Free Practice session had already seen several competitors break into the 1’28s, with Bulega, Sam Lowes and Axel Bassani leading the way, followed by Alex Lowes and Garrett Gerloff.
Bulega arrived as the pole sitter for the past two seasons at Phillip Island, and among the current 2026 grid, only Alvaro Bautista has previously started from pole at the Australian circuit. The benchmark coming into qualifying was Bulega’s 1’28.2 from earlier in the weekend, with his Superpole lap record of 1’27.916 still looming large.
The session began with early drama when Miguel Oliveira crashed at Turn 2 on his first flying lap, bringing out yellow flags. He was able to remount and return to pit lane.
Bulega quickly established control, setting a banker lap of 1’28.610 on his first run before returning to the pits. No rider was able to challenge that time during the opening stint. As the field headed back out for their final attempts, track position proved crucial. Lorenzo Baldassarri benefited from a tow behind Bulega, climbing to as high as fourth with a 1’29.191 in the Italian’s slipstream, but was further bumped down to P7 as the chequered flag came out.
On his second flying lap, Bulega found even more pace, delivering a 1’28.244. It sealed a third consecutive Phillip Island pole and confirmed his status as the rider to beat heading into Race 1.
Behind him, Yari Montella produced a breakthrough performance, setting a 1’28.633 on his final lap to secure second place. It marks Montella’s maiden WorldSBK front row start and his best result at the circuit, a significant step forward after a previous best of sixth in Superpole.
Completing a Ducati front row lockout, it was a Lowes brothers 3-4 formation, with Sam Lowes edging Alex courtesy of a 1’28.729 to make it a Ducati 1-2-3.
Further down the order, Remy Gardner continues to manage a shoulder injury sustained in an off-season motocross crash. The Australian briefly climbed to 13th with a 1’29.435 after following Gerloff on a flying lap, though he was later shuffled back as times improved, starting this afternoons Race 1 in 14th position.
After qualifying, Bulega said, “I feel very good. I love this track and I enjoy every lap riding here. Another pole, so for that I thank my team for the bike and I hope to continue like this.”
Montella reflected on his milestone front row: “Not bad in the end. At a track like Phillip Island, a track that I love, to start on the front row for the first time is a dream. We will just continue the work that we have done these past few days and we will see our potential.”
Sam Lowes added, “Really happy with qualifying. It was difficult conditions and very different to this morning. I knew Bulega would be strong so that’s where I think I am, second to fifth place in pace. I love Phillip Island and I’m really enjoying the support from everyone here.”
With the front row set and momentum firmly with Bulega, all eyes now turn to this afternoon’s Race 1.
