Nicolo Bulega brushes off Dutch WorldSBK Superpole crash: “I tried to improve”

Nicolo Bulega has brushed off a crash in WorldSBK Superpole at Assen, saying it’s more important that he’s okay after it.

Bulega took pole position despite the late fall at turn one, his 1m32.144s lap being a new lap record.

The Italian’s first turn fall came after that lap when he was trying to find more improvements.

“I just tried to improve a little bit more,” Nicolo Bulega told the WorldSBK international TV feed in parc ferme after Superpole.

“But anyway the important [thing] is I’m okay, the feeling is good, so good lap time and I hope to be fast also in the race.”

Bulega’s pole was his fourth in a row, including Jerez 2025, the Italian being the first rider since Toprak Razgatlioglu between Misano and Portimao in 2024 to set four pole positions in a row. He’s also the first rider since Jonathan Rea five years ago to set pole position in the opening three World Superbike rounds of the season; Rea having been on pole in the first eight rounds of 2021.

Lowes surprised by lap time

Sam Lowes set pole position in Assen last year with a 1m32.596. In 2025, the tyre allocation at Assen included the SCQ tyre, but the softest compound available this weekend is the SCX.

Despite the harder compound for qualifying, Lowes’ lap record was broken by over half-a-second by Bulega, and Lowes, too, was underneath it – to his surprise.

“I really enjoy it here, I was quite happy with the lap time,” Lowes said in parc ferme after Superpole.

“Last year my lap time was with the SCQ tyre, now we have the SCX, so I thought it would be slower.

“Obviously Bulega did an amazing lap, and all weekend and all year he’s been strong. 

“I’m really happy with that, showing my speed again, the team has done a mega job, so we’ll keep working for the race, fight for the podium, and really proud of them.”

Lecuona “expected more”

Iker Lecuona completed the top-three in Superpole as he continues from his strong Portuguese Round three weeks ago.

It’s two front row qualifying performances in a row for Lecuona, but the factory Ducati rider was unsatisfied this time.

“I expected more, honestly, I did small mistakes through the lap,” he told the world feed in his parc ferme TV interview.

“Overall, I’m happy, we did a good lap, again I worked alone and I feel good. 

“We improved the feeling with the bike during today, because yesterday I didn’t feel very comfortable on the bike. 

“Let’s see the races, 21 laps, I think we have a really good pace so let’s see what happens.”

Lecuona's third place confirmed a third front row lockout for Ducati in the opening three rounds of 2026.