Oncu Takes Fifth 2026 WorldSSP Pole at Estoril as Title Rivals Falter

Can Oncu continued his sensational Friday form in the 2026 FIM Supersport World Championship, claiming his fifth pole position of the season with a circuit-record 1m39.011s at Estoril on Friday. The Pata Yamaha Ten Kate rider topped the Tissot Superpole session ahead of Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha), who was just 0.046s adrift, while Tom Booth-Amos took third for PTR Triumph — his first front-row start since his dominant home round at Donington. As wind picked up over the second half of the session, the championship picture swung dramatically. Championship leader Albert Arenas fell to ninth on the third row, but the Spaniard still enjoyed the better day: his main rival Valentin Debise crashed early at Turn 12 and will start Saturday's Race 1 from 17th on the sixth row. Oli Bayliss continued his comeback from the injury that sidelined him at Magny-Cours, qualifying fourth ahead of Ondrej Vostatek and Filippo Farioli. Wildcard Eric Fernandez made a strong first impression in seventh on his Superpole debut, while Jaume Masia — who holds a 36-point Riders' Championship lead over Oncu — endured a miserable session in 20th. Race 1 gets underway at Estoril on Saturday at 14:00, with all three of the class's title pictures still on the line.