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As soon as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s track action ended at the Cremona Circuit, riders were talking about their weekends. From home hat-tricks, some struggles, and a look at the future, we’ve gathered some of the best quotes from debriefs at the Acerbis Italian Round in one place for you to enjoy.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati): “I’m happy to win with Gigi in the garage because he's the boss of Ducati, winning in front of him is even more special!”

Reflecting on his hat-trick, Championship leader Bulega said: “It’s incredible because, like I’ve said 100 times already, this is my worst track of the whole calendar. I really don’t like it for my riding style, it’s difficult for me to adapt here because there are a lot of slow corners. For me, they’re very bad, I prefer long and fast corners. If you told me a week ago that I’d win three races at Cremona, I wouldn’t believe you. To do it here is very, very special, maybe my best weekend in WorldSBK; even better than Australia for my first hat-trick and Assen even where I didn’t win Race 2, but I was very fast. It’s incredible for me, all the people that came to see me and my team. It’s very nice to give them a gift here in Italy, because I know winning for Ducati in Italy is very special. I couldn’t ask for more from this weekend. I’ve already said that my goal is to stay with Ducati because I have a very good feeling. It would be fantastic to stay with them, especially in my garage with my team. Until now, I haven’t signed anything. We are just waiting, we’re still talking. I’m happy to win with Gigi in the garage because he's the boss of Ducati, winning in front of him is even more special!”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “The bike potential isn’t like last year but I’m always thinking about improving this package”

Three P2s for Razgatlioglu, who said on Sunday: “I had a bit of a better bike today but I’m riding on the limit. I’m pushing so hard, but the bike isn’t working; I lost the front, lost the rear… I’m pushing so hard, last year I wasn’t riding like this. The biggest problem for me is corner exit. The Ducati is really strong and has good acceleration. I’m pushing so hard but when we get to the corner exit, he’s gone. Every lap, I was coming, and he’s gone. The bike potential isn’t like last year but I’m always thinking about improving this package. At Most, I’m normally very strong, last year I had three wins, and it was easy for me. This year, it’s not possible for me to say anything as it’s completely different. The biggest problem is the bike isn’t turning and also stopping isn’t like last year as the engine brake works strangely, the traction control isn’t consistent. When you feel grip, you open the gas and it’s spinning immediately. I lost a lot in the first sector but only because of the first corner, because my bike was chattering a lot there.”

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati): “We improved the feeling of the bike… it wasn’t enough to fight against Nicolo and Toprak”

A trio of third place finishes for the #19, who said: “I’m happy because we improved the feeling of the bike compared to Race 1. It wasn’t enough to fight against Nicolo and Toprak, but we made a step forward. We’re improving lap times at all the tracks but it’s still not enough to fight for victories. In this kind of track, with a lot of changes of direction, I’m too small and struggle a lot when I have to move the bike. When I have to stop the bike and make it turn, I always struggle. Maybe I have an advantage in other areas, but this kind of track isn’t the best for small riders like me. It depends on the track layout. Here, the difference between us is even bigger because of all the changes of direction, all the stopping, all the corners you have to turn a lot; depending on the layout, we have more or less differences.”

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “What I’m doing here is trying to be as fast as possible”

P4 for Petrucci in Race 2 after a remarkable comeback. He said: “It’s a shame that we have four laps in Superpole because we have two laps with the tyre. I did one lap because of the yellow flags then the problem with Locatelli, but it wasn’t his fault; they’d just removed the yellow flags when he went through. I went by, I had no yellow flags, but when he was in front, he did. This new tyre is so grippy. We’ve been faster than last year but, for my riding style, it’s more difficult. When I release the brakes, the rear tyre pushes the front like it’s locking the front. The tyre is good, but we have to understand how to use it. I’m so happy for Nicolo. He deserves it because he’s doing a super good job. What I want to do is fight for third in the Championship. I recovered points to Locatelli but lost a lot compared to Bautista. It wasn’t really a good weekend. If Barni gives me more money, I’ll sign immediately! You can tell him, ‘Give Danilo more money and he’ll sign!’. Honestly, I’m really happy in the team with the crew and Marco, he’s a friend. He’s a guy who spent his whole life trying to get here and winning, we did it together. It would be a dream to jump on a factory bike like I did I MotoGP™ but, at the moment, it’s not a priority because I know my bike is really good. It’s not me dictating the riders’ market. It’s not a matter of money. What I’m doing here is trying to be as fast as possible.”

Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC): “In Race 2, the speed at the end was a big surprise for me”

P6 for Lecuona in Race 2, who was quick all weekend. He said: “When I checked the data from my Race 1 crash, I was just one degree more on the lean angle. I didn’t do anything crazy but when you’re on the limit, it happens sometimes. It was frustrating for me because the P4 was almost there for me in Race 1. In the Superpole Race, I had a big moment with van der Mark when I was P8. I lost a lot of positions, dropped to P13, started to recover but I started to override to fight back because in 10 laps, everyone can go fast and destroy the tyre. I crashed and it was disappointing for me because I lost a bit of front feeling. In Race 2, the speed at the end was a big surprise for me. I knew I had the speed, but I had a bad start and then I started to overtake as many riders as I could. I saw I was far from P5, but my pace was very consistent. It was a very strong second part of the race for me. In the end, I lost the battle with Sam but I’m really happy. For now, I don’t know what’s happening with my future; my manager doesn’t want to tell me anything. I can’t tell you anything right now. I’m happy with Honda and we saw that Honda are coming back. From last year to now, we started to have a good bike. Let’s see what happens in the future.”

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team): “I had to release the brake again to get past him, it was a big move!”

Another positive outing for the #14 despite feeling under the weather at Cremona. He said after a Race 2 fight over P5: “It was nice to battle with the Hondas. Iker made a really good move on his teammate in the last corner with a couple laps to go and it was large enough for me to slip through as well. Then, on the last lap, Iker was really strong on the brakes, and I went to outbrake him on the straight; I had to release the brake again to get past him, it was a big move. I’m happy to take a top five for all the effort and how I was feeling.”

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC): “We’re struggling with acceleration and rear grip but, depending on the layout, we can compensate with the front end of the bike”

A strong round for Vierge, who reviewed it by saying: “I’m very happy with the weekend overall. I think, this year, we showed some speed especially on Saturdays but then on Sunday, we never end how we expect. Cremona was the first one where we built up during the weekend and finished in a good way. In Race 2, I made a very good start, and I tried to go with the first group, and I could for a few laps, but I used the tyres too much. On the last laps of the race, I was f****d, let’s say. I tried to save the top five, but it wasn’t possible. We’re struggling with acceleration and rear grip but, depending on the layout, we can compensate with the front end of the bike, and this is one of the tracks that allows us to compensate. Our strongest point is braking. Right now, we’re able to brake so late and feel the front tyre, but then we’re missing the exit. The power is there but we can’t use it in the best way. There are many rumours around the paddock. I’m just focused on my job. My manager is the one who’s taking care about the rest, especially my future. In the next weeks, everyone will start to figure out their future.”

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