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Race lap record pace for Bulega in FP2 as he tops Friday running in WorldSSP

Friday, 5 May 2023 15:07 GMT

    • Championship leader Nicolo Bulega was the only rider to dip below the 1’45s bracket on Friday in Barcelona as he went under the existing race lap record; three manufacturers in the top three

    Race lap record pace was on display at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the FIM Supersport World Championship as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) topped the timesheets on Friday at the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round. Bulega’s best time was more than seven tenths clear of the rest of the field as he went under the existing race lap record, set in 2022, by four tenths of a second in Friday’s Free Practice 2 session.

    THREE MANUFACTURERS IN THE TOP THREE: Ducati, Triumph and MV Agusta shine

    Bulega posted a 1’44.740s to claim top spot in both FP2 and the combined classification at the end of Friday’s running as he finished 0.747s clear of his nearest rivals. He was the only rider to lap in the 1’44s bracket on his way to finishing first, with Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) in second place. His best time, a 1’45.487s, came in FP2 but was still some seven tenths down on Bulega’s time. In third place was Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who was one of just four riders who did not improve their time in the afternoon. His best time was a 1’45.582s and was set in Free Practice 1, where he topped the times. His day was disrupted by a crash in the morning but it was late in the session and he lost minimal running time.

    IT’S CLOSE IN THE PODIUM FIGHT: little to separate the field

    Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) took fourth spot in the combined classification despite a top-three finish in FP2, lapping 0.854s slower than pacesetter Bulega. Caricasulo was ahead of compatriot Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) in fifth place after he set a best time of 1’45.646s in FP2 while Australian rider Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) burst into the top six in the combined classification. His best time was a 1’45.749s to claim sixth spot overall on Friday.

    COMPLETING THE TOP TEN: half-a-second between second and tenth

    After his first WorldSSP podium last time out at Assen, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) put both MV Agusta machines in the top seven on Friday after he set a 1’45.803s for seventh spot, finishing ahead of Maximilian Kofler (D34G Racing). Austrian rider Kofler was the fastest WorldSSP Challenge rider on Friday and was only a tenth of a second behind teammate Bayliss after the two 45-minute sessions. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was ninth on Friday ahead of Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) who rounded out the top ten. Navarro had a crash at Turn 10 in FP1 which disrupted his session.

    ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 15: a hotly contested race incoming

    Dutch rider Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) was 11th after Friday’s action after he posted a 1’46.001s to claim 11th spot, missing out on a spot in the top ten by just 0.015s, while Raffaele de Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 12th; the Italian rider had a trip through the gravel in FP2. It was a tricky afternoon for Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) after he had two crashes in FP2. The first game at Turn 8 while the second was at Turn 5, and on both occasions,  he was able to return his bike to the pits and he put in a series of late laps to take 13th place. The returning Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 14th ahead of Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) who rounded out the top 15.

    HOUSEKEEPING: to note from Friday in WorldSSP

    Yuta Okaya (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) was 24th despite a disrupted day. The Japanese rookie had a technical issue in FP1 while a crash at Turn 5 in FP2 limited his running. Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) was another who was caught out during the day when he crashed at Turn 14 in FP1, and he finished 30th in the classification. Wildcard Baris Sahin (MDR Offitec Yamaha) had a difficult day in Catalunya after he crashed at Turn 5 in FP2, ending his session early. He finished the day in 31st in the classification.

    The top six following Friday WorldSSP action, full results here:

    1 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’44.740s

    2. Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) +0.747s

    3. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.842s

    4. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) +0.854s

    5. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.906s

    6. Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) +1.009s

    Watch more incredible WorldSSP action from Barcelona using the WorldSBK VideoPass!