Ducati’s Nicolò Bulega delivered a thrilling performance in the latest WorldSBK round, narrowly missing out on the win after leading much of the race. Meanwhile, teammate Álvaro Bautista demonstrated grit and determination, fighting his way from a challenging P11 start to finish sixth.
Bulega Secures Pole with Circuit Record, Penalized but Stays Competitive
Bulega made headlines during Superpole, where he clinched pole position by setting an all-time lap record of 1’31.618. However, a post-session penalty for allegedly impeding Danilo Petrucci saw him demoted three positions on the grid.
Despite the setback, Bulega made an exceptional start and quickly seized the race lead, capitalizing on a mistake by Toprak Razgatlıoğlu. The battle between Bulega and Razgatlıoğlu intensified throughout the race, with the Turkish rider applying relentless pressure.
In the final laps, Bulega appeared poised for a decisive overtake, but Razgatlıoğlu responded forcefully, preventing the Italian from reclaiming the top spot. Bulega ultimately crossed the finish line in second after an inspiring performance.
Bautista Recovers to Sixth After Difficult Qualifying
Álvaro Bautista encountered a tough Superpole session, qualifying in P11 due to an unsettled bike setup. The race proved equally demanding for the Spanish rider, who struggled to find the optimal feeling with his machine.
Nevertheless, Bautista remained focused and fought his way through the field, overtaking five riders to finish sixth. His perseverance keeps him within striking distance as the championship continues.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)
“First of all, I think the penalty was completely unfair, but at the same time, I admit that it didn’t have much impact on the race. I felt I wasn’t 100%, preventing me from effectively attacking Toprak, who still had an excellent race. We will work to take a step forward and be even more competitive tomorrow”.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19)
“There’s not much to say. With the temperature so high, I couldn’t find a good feeling, leading me to make some mistakes in my attempts to overtake those in front of me. It wasn’t easy to ride today. We’ll have to find a way to be more incisive, starting with the Superpole Race, which will be important for recovering some positions on the grid”.
