Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) did battle once again this weekend, and the round-concluding Sunday race action made big waves in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship picture. A two-horse race is emerging at the halfway point of the 2025 season; since his shining performances at Phillip Island and Cremona, Bulega has led the title race by a considerable margin, but now, Razgatlioglu has broken the title picture wide open.

“I didn’t have a perfect feeling; we need to keep working to see how we can improve” – Bulega on his Misano weekend

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) came into his and his Manufacturer’s home round at Misano with a 31-point Riders’ Championship lead. While the circuit is one of Razgatlioglu’s strongest on the calendar, ultimately, Bulega’s podium consistency and tremendous precision meant that winning points back on the #11 would likely have to come in many small increments, as Bulega often earns a plethora of points each weekend as well. Sunday at Misano however, had other plans, as a Superpole Race crash saw Bulega drop 12 points in one fell swoop, added to the five from Race 1 and five from Race 2 to drop the #11’s lead to just nine points.

On his home round struggle to top Toprak, Bulega said: “It was an up and down weekend; it was difficult to keep a high level all weekend. Toprak was very strong, and I didn’t always have a perfect feeling, so we need to keep working and understand how we can improve. After this morning’s crash when Bassani crashed into me, it was even more difficult to compete in Race 2.”

“It may be difficult at Donington, but Most is one of his strongest tracks and I was able to win a race there” – Bulega resolute to defend his title lead

Despite the circuit’s proximity to Ducati headquarters, the performance shown by Toprak should come as little surprise. The Turkish phenom has always done well at Misano, and his 2025 trio of race wins makes it back-to-back hat tricks at the venue for ‘El Turco’. What is important to Bulega now is remembering that he was able to take points from Toprak at venues he is strong at like in Most’s Race 2, and that the bad luck that befell Bulega in the Superpole Race could happen to any rider at any time.

“In the last few races, I have been unlucky with the points; I lost 12 with the crash today after losing 37 at Assen. The end of the season looks like it may be hard, but we need to keep looking forward and stay positive. Sometimes I have a good feeling, other times not, so we need to understand and fix these problems. We need to try to keep the points lead, which may be difficult at Donington, but Most is one of his strongest tracks, and I was able to win a race there. I will try to do my best, as always, and if it's not Donington, it will be the next round where I will gain points on him.

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