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Bulega pips Petrucci in twice red-flagged FP1 of WorldSBK Official Test, Razgatlioglu crashes at Turn 6

Monday, 17 February 2025 02:27 GMT

    • After his heroics in his debut round last year, Bulega has started off the week in Australia by topping FP1 ahead of compatriot Petrucci; Razgatlioglu’s session ended very early after Turn 6 crash

    Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) topped the times in a disrupted MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship FP1 during the Official Test. 2024 runner-up Bulega was 0.309s clear of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) during the first session which was interrupted by two red flags at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit which will host the season-opener in just under a week. Reigning Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) completed just two laps during FP1 after he crashed at Turn 6 in the early stages of the session, bringing it to an end for the #1.

    Bulega posted a 1’29.454s to claim P1 in the first session, racking up 30 laps, one of the highest on the grid, to take first place although times were down on his own race and pole records set in 2024. Petrucci set a 1’29.763s to claim second place as he looked to get confidence on his Independent Panigale V4 R at Phillip Island. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) put in a late lap to move into third place with a 1’30.006s, 0.552s down on Bulega’s time.

    2022 and 2023 Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) claimed fourth place as he completed a quartet of Ducatis at the head of the field with the #19 setting a 1’30.030s and completing 37 laps during FP1; the most of any rider on the grid. Fifth place belonged to American star Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) after the #31 posted a 1’30.255s although he was only 0.001s clear of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) in sixth after the Italian posted a 1’30.256s.

    Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) led the Bimota charge in FP1 as he took seventh place, lapping just over a second off Bulega’s pace. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was eighth despite a late crash at Turn 2 on his Yamaha R1 machine, finishing less than a tenth away from the #22 directly ahead. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) was ninth with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) heading up the BMW contingent with 10th after the Dutchman set a 1’30.555s.

    Razgatlioglu's session lasted only two-timed laps in FP1. He posted a 1’33.029s in the early stages of the session but a crash at Turn 6 meant he didn’t get any more timed laps in, with the reigning Champion finishing last of the timed runners. The first red flag was deployed with just under an hour remaining on the clock due to technical issues. Towards the end of FP1, Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed at Turn 2 which brought out the second and final red flag, with the six-time Champion taken to the medical centre for a check-up. He was diagnosed with a left foot injury and will be reviewed after further assessment.

    The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

    1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1’29.454s

    2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.309s

    3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) +0.552s

    4. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.576s

    5. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) +0.801s

    6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.802s

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