Nicholas Bulega largely dominated the test World SBK Superbike two-day event at Phillip Island in Australia, going fastest in all four sessions.
In fact, no one is really surprised by this supremacy of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider since, already last year, when he was a rookie crowned with a Supersport world champion title, the 25-year-old Italian had won on the southern circuit in Superpole and in the first race.
After this great start to the season, the native of Montecchio Emilia confirms this year that he will be the big favourite for the next weekend, riding his Panigale V4R.
Whether in the dry conditions of the first three sessions, in the one on Tuesday afternoon partially compromised by the rain and forcing the drivers to stay in the pits for long periods, or in the final 10-minute rush again in the dry, Nicholas Bulega gathered valuable information on set-up and tyres, before setting the fastest times on the iconic Australian circuit.
Precise, methodical, extremely consistent and determined, number 11 went down in 1'28.680, halfway between his reference imposed the day before (1'28.765) and the race lap record he set last year (1'28.564). As a reminder, his pole position last year was in 1'27.916, already ahead of a certain Andrea Iannone...
At the end of the hundred or so laps completed, his race pace also proved to be the best, and it is not the tire change in the race that worries the official Ducati rider more. He is therefore clearly a scarecrow, even if he remains cautious about the coming weekend.
Nicholas Bulega : “It was a great two days of testing so we are coming into the first round of the season with confidence. I have improved the feeling compared to Monday, which was already good. I think we have a good package to start this race weekend and I am happy with the feeling with the bike. Everything is working well at the moment. I know we still have to improve but, since the first day, I have improved a little bit and if we can make another small step it will be good. We have worked hard to gather important information that we can use to sort out the final details during these two days before free practice. I am confident because it is my favourite circuit. I am looking forward to getting back on track. Testing is nothing. It is good to have a good feeling but you do not take points during testing. We will see during the race weekend. Starting like this is very good. I will start the weekend in a very positive way and try to stay in front.”
Bulega Test Australia
