Nicolò Bulega sweeps practice sessions at Magny-Cours WorldSBK round
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 5, 2026, 12:33 AM
Last updated Sep 5, 2026
Nicolò Bulega led both Friday practice sessions for the French Round of the WorldSBK championship at Magny-Cours. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider set a session-best time of 1'35.556 in the morning and followed with a 1'35.916 in the afternoon. Despite setting the benchmark, Bulega expressed frustration with his bike's handling, describing the machine as overly physical and difficult to ride precisely. Teammate Iker Lecuona finished with the third-quickest combined time despite an early crash during the second practice session. Lecuona is now looking to incorporate setup adjustments from his previous experience with the Gresini MotoGP team to improve his performance. Bulega holds a 133-point lead in the championship standings and can mathematically secure the 2026 title at this venue depending on the weekend results.
- •Nicolò Bulega recorded the fastest times in both Friday practice sessions.
- •The best lap of the day was 1'35.556, set during the morning session.
- •Iker Lecuona posted the third-fastest combined time despite crashing in FP2.
- •Lecuona is testing setup changes derived from his prior MotoGP experience.
- •Bulega seeks improved bike feel and precision for the remainder of the weekend.
- 12:33 AMYahoo Sports — Bulega Tops Magny-Cours Free Practice But Still Not Satisfied
"Lecuona making adjustments he picked up from MotoGP Photos by Ducati. Nicolò Bulega swept both Friday practice sessions for the French Round at Magny-Cours, but the runaway championship leader came away wanting more from his Panigale V4 R. [cuttext][/cuttext] The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider set the day's benchmark of 1'35.556 in FP1, taking advantage of cooler morning track conditions. When temperatures climbed to around 113 degrees Fahrenheit on the tarmac in the afternoon, he couldn't beat
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