The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s Motul Czech Round Race 2 saw what might end up being a critical win for Nicolo Bulega’s (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) Championship hopes. Bulega’s final- straight overtake on Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) helped the Italian protect his lead against the defending Champion currently in second place in the Riders’ Championship. Despite ‘El Turco’ winning two of the weekend’s three races, thanks to Bulega’s late heroics for Ducati, Razgatlioglu will only gain three points on his title rival, cutting Bulega’s lead to 26 points.

“I was trying to push 200% every lap to follow him” - Bulega on his upset win in Most’s Race 2

Race 2 featured Bulega jumping ahead of Toprak in pole position for the holeshot, he held the lead early on until Lap 12. ‘Bulegas’ retook the lead for Lap 13  before Lap 14 saw Toprak reclaim P1, cutting inside Bulega on the Turn 1-2 chicane. The #1 held P1 for the subsequent 8 laps, however Bulega was cutting down the distance, not content to settle for P2 and allow Toprak a second hat-trick of the season of his own. In the final sector, Bulega chipped away at Toprak’s gap, getting into striking distance until on the exit of the final corner. As both bikes sailed around the corner onto the final straight, Bulega held a wider line, passing Razgatlioglu on the outside of the straight and crossing the finish line a mere 0.027s.

On his Race 2 win, Bulega said, “It was incredible, Toprak had more than I did all race, his pace was stronger than mine, but I was trying to push 200% every lap to follow him. By halfway through, he was about a second ahead of me, but I never gave up. I tried to catch up to him because I knew I’d have more than him in the last few laps. In the last lap I put everything on the line, it was incredible, I was on the limit, more than that was impossible, the last lap I was sideways, screaming, the traction control, everything was crazy, but it was very nice. Most is not the best for my riding style or our bike, we prefer long and fast corners and this one is small and slow, so I’m happy to win here, it’s very special.”

“We’ve made a step in the last races since Cremona, this is really important for the Championship, but the Championship is very long” – Bulega wants to put the work first before celebrating too early

What might be even more concerning for Bulega’s rivals is a concept that Bulega has said before; that Bulega and his Ducati Panigale V4 R package might not yet be at its potential and improve even more. If Bulega can steal a win from Toprak at Most, it is certainly a promising sign of progress for the Ducati factory team. The upcoming Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round at Misano will be a true test of where the two riders’ platforms currently stack up. Misano is the home round for Ducati, yet last year Razgatlioglu won a hat trick for BMW’s first wins at the circuit.

Bulega spoke on the progress he feels with their bike and looks forward to Misano, “We’ve made a step in the last races since Cremona, this is really important for the Championship, but the Championship is very long, there are still many races until the final race. One more is better than one less. I’m happy we won today because it motivates me for the next race at my home round. Last year Toprak was very strong but like we showed in these last races, I think we made a step compared to last year. Last year I was always behind Toprak in second, but I want to bring this step forward to win at Misano.”

Can Bulega further solidify his Championship lead at Misano or can Razgatlioglu break the Championship battle wide open? Tune in June 13-15^th with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 30% off!