Nicolò Bulega is driving everyone crazy in Superbike: at Misano, he once again achieved a perfect record, winning all three of his races and outclassing his rivals. They, along with a good portion of the spectators, have disappeared from view.
By Paolo Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com
This championship, dominated by a single rider and marked by Ducati's omnipresence, has already delivered its verdict. The problem is that it's only June and there are still five rounds to go before the end of October. We could almost skip ahead to next year, when Bulega will be in MotoGP and (perhaps) the organizers will find a way to limit Ducati's technical superiority through regulations.
Copy paste
Superbike used to be the most competitive championship, where anything could happen around every corner. Now, all the races are the same. The latest “battle” (if you can call it that…) at Misano followed the exact same scenario as Saturday’s. Iker Lecuona, the other factory Ducati rider, once again got the best start from pole position ahead of Bulega. On Saturday, the surprise lasted four corners. This time, Lecuona held on for half a lap, but it was even worse: Nicolò attempted an exceptionally skillful overtake in the fast curvone, one of the most spectacular sections of the circuit.
These are champion maneuvers, designed to remind everyone who's in charge. She also brought to mind her lightning-fast overtake at the Assen chicane two months earlier. Lecuona, finishing second for the eighteenth consecutive race, clearly understood the message.
Statistics alone are not enough in Superbike
Each time, we have to reel off Nicolò Bulega's ever more impressive statistics. This year, he has won everything (21 out of 21), in addition to the last four races of last season. Total: 25 consecutive victories. In a month, at Donington, he could surpass Álvaro Bautista's record of 27 wins in a single season set in 2023.
In the process, he has already equaled Toprak Razgatlioglu's record of 21 victories, achieved two years ago with BMW. In the two previous seasons at Misano, the Turk had always won, with Bulega finishing second five times. "Without me, you'll be bored."He had predicted it. The figures are impressive, but struggle to generate enthusiasm.
Lecuona misses, Bassani falls
The Spaniard held on for five laps before running wide at the entrance to the Carro corner, ending what little suspense remained. However, the biggest mistake of the afternoon belonged to Axel Bassani: firmly in third place, he crashed at the Quercia corner with five laps to go. A real shame, because seeing the Bimota on the podium would have been particularly sweet.
Ducati leaves only crumbs, and failing to capitalize on them is almost unforgivable. Yari Montella inherited them, resulting in a podium finish virtually identical to the previous two races. So be it.
