Performance based penalties put in place ahead of round 3 as Nicolo Bulega chases history
Bimota and Ducati will both face maximum fuel flow reductions heading into this weekend’s Dutch WorldSBK round at Assen on 17–19 April. Both manufacturers have been handed a 0.5kg/h reduction to their maximum fuel flow, though the two brands began the season on different base fuel flow limits due to separate reductions applied last year.
The official wording of the penalty reads:
“After the latest Concession Checkpoint (Checkpoint 2), the FIM has determined that both Ducati and bimota have exceeded the MSMA performance threshold defined in Article 2.4.3.2 of the regulations. As a result, both manufacturers will face a 0,5 kg/h Fuel Flow penalty for Assen.”
Ducati has dominated the opening two rounds, winning all six races through Nicolo Bulega. He has taken both pole positions in 2026 and led all but three racing laps so far. Bulega could match Toprak Razgatlioglu’s record of 13 straight WorldSBK victories this weekend.
Behind Bulega, Ducati has piled up additional podium results through Iker Lecuona, who scored three at Portimao, plus one each from Yari Montella, Alvaro Bautista and Lorenzo Baldassarri at Phillip Island. The Panigale V4 R also locked out the front row at both rounds, with Bulega on pole ahead of Montella and Sam Lowes in Australia, then Bulega ahead of Lecuona and Montella in Portugal.
After two rounds, Ducati riders hold the top two places in the championship standings and there are six Panigale V4 R riders inside the top 10.
Bimota is still chasing its first front-row start of the season, but has already claimed three podiums, all at Phillip Island. Axel Bassani scored two of those and Alex Lowes took the other. Bassani left Australia second in the standings but slipped to third after finishing eighth in all three Portimao races. Lowes sits fifth overall after placing fourth in every race in Portugal.
