WSBK Superbike Australia D1: Was Nicolo Bulega (Ducati/1) really at Phillip Island?

With the help of the night shift, the less attentive spectators might wonder if Nicholas Bulega participated in the first Superbike race of the season World SBK in Phillip Island, Australia…

Indeed, after having completely dominated the preliminary tests and then the qualifying Superpole, and then been seen in pole position on the starting grid, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider almost disappeared from the DWO cameras during the first 20-lap Superbike race, or rather 2 times 10 laps, that was included in the programme this Saturday in southern France.

The reason is simple, the #11 was simply on another planet, driving about a second faster than his opponents before extending his lead to 2,8 seconds on Toprak Razgatlioglu in the second round. The latter had tried everything to hang on to the Italian during the Superpole, and had succeeded in doing so on a single lap, but during the race the die was quickly cast: Nicholas Bulega was simply untouchable!

With the same Ducati Panigale V4R as his teammate Alvaro Bautista or that compatriots Danilo Petrucci et Andrea Iannone, Nicholas Bulega played another tune, a tone above solo, on a track that seems to suit him perfectly since his debut as a rookie last year.

The continuation of the recital will take place tomorrow Sunday with the Superpole race (at 3:00 CEST) and race 2 (at 6:00 CEST).

Nicholas Bulega (#11): “I’m very happy because I felt good from the first practice session on Monday. Every time I get on the bike I know what I can do and what I have to do. I just enjoy the riding because it’s an incredible feeling as the laps go by. I’m really proud of what we’re doing here this week.
I wasn’t very relaxed before the race because I knew that some aggressive riders were going to start close to me, especially on the first lap after braking. So I tried to stay calm and focused. I started well and finished well. If I can keep this feeling, I can stay positive for the rest of the weekend. I want to continue in this position. I have to be honest: with the team we did a great job, and since the first day of testing the level of our performance was very high. To reproduce all these things in the race is another story. That’s why I’m delighted, but there’s still a lot to do this weekend.”

Results of Race-1 Superbike at Phillip Island in Australia:

Classification credit: WorldSBK.com