Nicolo Bulega Makes it Three at the Island
Bulega Makes it Three at the Island
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated the Australian Round of WorldSBK, winning all three races and securing his first career hat-trick. His flawless performance in cooler conditions at Phillip Island has given him a commanding 26-point lead in the championship standings.
Credit: WSBK Press
Race 1 Highlights
Bulega converted his pole position into an early lead and controlled the pace throughout the weekend. He led for the opening eight laps before pitting for a mandatory tyre change. Rejoining the track, he retook the lead on Lap 11 and managed the race to the chequered flag.
Andrea Iannone was the closest challenger early on, but after running wide on Lap 2, the field splintered, allowing Bulega to extend his lead. Toprak Razgatlioglu initially chased Bulega but dropped to fourth before the pit stops. A smooth pit stop saw him reshuffle into second, where he held off Alvaro Bautista for the runner-up position.
Scott Redding, returning to Ducati machinery, secured a top-five finish after a competitive race. Bimota’s return to WorldSBK was notable, with the manufacturer leading a lap during the pit window. Both Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani finished inside the top ten in eighth and ninth places, respectively.
Credit: WSBK Press
Superpole Race & Race 2
In the Tissot Superpole Race, Bulega led from start to finish, securing victory by over two seconds. Iannone finished second, while Razgatlioglu struggled after an early off-track excursion, finishing outside the points. Bautista faced setbacks, crashing out early, while Danilo Petrucci claimed third in a close fight with Redding and Sam Lowes.
In Race 2, Bulega once again controlled the race, leading from the start despite pressure from Iannone. Bautista, starting from the fourth row, charged through the field and finished second, 2.603s behind Bulega. Redding was penalized but still secured fourth place, with Ducati locking out the top six positions. Razgatlioglu endured another tough race, retiring due to a technical issue.
Championship Standings
With this dominant weekend, Bulega now leads the championship, with teammate Bautista in second. Iannone sits in third, followed closely by Petrucci and Redding. Razgatlioglu, despite an early podium finish, struggled to score further points. Bulega's triple victory has set a strong precedent for the 2025 WorldSBK season as the series heads to the next round.