Friday WorldSSP
The remarkable talent that is Can Öncü (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) took his fifth pole position of the season, with a new track best lap of 1:39.011. He eased his way 0.046 seconds ahead of another R9 rider, Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA), with the front row for Race One at the classic Estoril circuit being completed by the three-cylinder machine of Tom Booth-Amos (Triumph Factory Racing).
Right behind Booth-Amos came his own team-mate, Oli Bayliss (Triumph Factory Racing), with the Triumph feel-good factor continuing on with Ondrej Vostatek (Compos Racing Triumph) fifth. Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing Team Yamaha) was sixth, earning a second row start.
Eric Fernandez (Cerba Racing Yamaha Team) placed seventh, with a sudden uptick in pace for double WorldSSP Champion, Dominique Aegerter (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team), taking him to eighth place – two positions up on his team-mate and recent double race winner, Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team).
Champion-elect Albert Arenas (AS Racing Yamaha) was a relatively lowly ninth in Superpole, but he was in better shape than his season-long challenger, Valentin Debise (ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing), who was only 17th.
2026 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—Friday WorldSSP
| 1 | Can Oncu | (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) | 1:39.011 |
| 2 | Lucas Mahias | (GMT94 Yamaha) | +0.046s |
| 3 | Tom Booth-Amos | (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) | +0.099s |
| 4 | Oli Bayliss | (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) | +0.148s |
| 5 | Ondrej Vostatek | (Compos Racing Team) | +0.186s |
Friday WorldSBK
Newly-crowned World Champion Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) took the fastest time on day one of free practice at Estoril, but he was only 0.066 seconds up on recent first time podium finisher, Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing Ducati).
Very close behind was three time Cremona race winner, Iker Lecuona (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati).
Local Portuguese star Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was fourth, albeit 0.3 seconds behind the leading three in the combined times, with the top bimota of Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) fifth fastest in the warm and dry conditions.
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) placed sixth, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and his fellow Englishman Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) were seventh and eighth, respectively.
The top ten on a gloriously sunny day one was rounded out by Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) and the top Yamaha of Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha).
FP3 and Superpole Qualifying will take place on Saturday 10 October, with Race One starting on Saturday afternoon, at 15.30 local time in Portugal.
2026 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—Friday WorldSBK
| 1 | Nicolo Bulega | (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) | 1:35.432s |
| 2 | Alberto Surra | (Motocorsa Racing) | +0.066s |
| 3 | Iker Lecuona | (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) | 0.084s |
| 4 | Miguel Oliveira | (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) | +0.384s |
| 5 | Axel Bassani | (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) | +0.412s |
