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Superbike, first win of the year at Phillip Island goes to Nicolò Bulega

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Nicolò Bulega triumphed in race-1 of the Australian GP, the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at the Phillip Island circuit. The rider of the factory Ducati, who started from the pole position, immediately took command of operations imposing an unsustainable pace for his opponents and gradually stretching over the 22 laps in the program.

Andrea GussoniMotoGP, the highest paid riders: salaries World 2026

MotoGP, the highest paid riders: salaries World 2026. Source: Marca
10 Alex Rins (Yamaha): 2.2 million euros. The Spanish rider is all'last year in Yamaha
9 Enea Bastianini (KTM): 2.5 million euros. The Italian rider is expected to move up a level after a season of acclimatization in KTM
8 Joan Mir (Honda): 3 million euros. The 2020 world champion must climb back up after four difficult years
7 Jack Miller (Yamaha): 3 million euros. The Australian is in his second year at Yamaha
6 Johann Zarco (Honda): 4 million euros. The French rider is the highest paid in Honda
5 Maverick Viñales (KTM): 4 million euros. The Spanish centaur is hunting for a revival after a difficult season
4 Jorge Martin (Aprilia): 4.2 million euros. After a nightmarish 2025, the 2024 champion hopes to turn his Aprilia experience around
3 Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati): 7 million euros. The two-time MotoGP world champion is hunting for redemption after a difficult 2025
2 Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha): 12 million euros. The 2021 world champion could be in his last year at Yamaha
The excluded: Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez. Paradoxically, two of last season’s best riders are also among the lowest paid. Acosta has a salary of 1.5 million in KTM
Marc Marquez’s brother, Alex, draws less than a million euros from the Ducati Gresini team
1 Marc Marquez (Ducati): 17.2 million euros. The world champion’s base salary is 12 million euros, raised after last season’s victories

The deputy world champion, a big favorite to win the title after the transfer of rainbow winner Toprak Razgatlioglu to MotoGP, thus opens the season in the best way. His performance on Australian soil confirms the expectations of the eve and consolidates his role as a reference in the category, as well as Ducati’s rainbow ambitions.

Bulega crossed the finish line with a margin of 4″7 over Yuri Montella, author of a consistent race with the Ducati of the Barni Spark Racing Team and good at gaining a well-deserved second position. Completing the all-Ducati podium is Lorenzo Baldassarri, third with the Team Goeleven bike after overtaking Sam Lowes in the early stages of the race.

Axel Bassani’s performance was also excellent, fourth with the Bimota and just 36 thousandths away from the podium. Completing the top ten are Sam Lowes (Ducati), Iker Lecuona (Ducati), Alex Lowes (Bimota), Miguel Oliveira (BMW), Alberto Surra (Ducati), eighth, and Danilo Petrucci (BMW). Sunday, February 22, the program includes Superpole and race-2.

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