REPORT: Bulega controls red-flagged Race 2 at Magny-Cours, Lecuona and Montella on the rostrum

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) continued his run towards MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship glory with a commanding Race 2 victory at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The #11 was unchallenged as he beat teammate Iker Lecuona by more than five seconds in the final race of the Acerbis French Round, with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) completing the rostrum.

LIGHTS TO FLAG WIN

Bulega grabbed the holeshot from pole position at Turn 1 but, unlike, in Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race, the #11 was able to defend from teammate Iker Lecuona at the Adelaide Hairpin on the opening lap. ‘Bulegas’ immediately started pulling out a gap over his teammate over the first three laps. On Lap 4, Bulega set a 1’35.159s, seven tenths quicker than Lecuona, as he put distance between himself and his teammate. That gave him control of the race as he kept building his gap, eventually claiming the 46^th win of his WorldSBK career. Lecuona now has 22^nd P2 finishes this season. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) got a good start on Lap 1, passing Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) at Turn 5 to move into a provisional podium spot. On Lap 6, Montella made his move at Turn 5 on Surra, with the pair giving no inch but it was the #5 who came out on top to take third from the #67.

THE PODIUM SCRAP

Surra was unable to respond against Montella, although didn’t lose ground to him over the immediate laps, but did have to defend from Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team). The #22 tried, on Lap 7, to get ahead of Surra on the run into Turn 5 but Surra was able to defend position at the Adelaide Hairpin. Surra then attempted to break away from the chasing Bimota as he looked to make it two P4 finishes on Sunday, before Alex Lowes crashed from fifth at Turn 5 on Lap 11. He was able to re-join the race at the back of the field. That left Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) to chase down Surra for fourth, with ‘Balda’ on the back of his fellow Independent Ducati rider by Lap 13. On Lap 14, Baldassarri got ahead at Turn 13 to move into fourth, although Surra tried to fight back by cutting back heading into Turn 14; he was unable to do so. That meant Montella completed the podium, his 13^th in WorldSBK, while Baldassarri took his best result since Most. Despite finishing in fifth, it’s Surra’s best result in a feature-length race.

LATE CRASH FOR BRIDEWELL

The fight for sixth raged in the latter stages between Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates), with two-time WorldSBK Champion making his move for P6 at Turn 5 on Lap 17, but the #46 was able to defend on the exit of the hairpin. However, a few corners later, Bautista made his move to claim P6. It’s the Spanish star’s first top-six finish since the Tissot Superpole Race at Balaton Park. Bridewell was looking to claim P7 but he crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 20, which promoted Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) to P7 and brought out the red flags. As two-thirds race distance had been completed, it was not restarted. Bridewell was taken to the medical centre following the crash, and declared unfit due to multiple contusions and a suspected concussion.

THE FIGHT FOR THE TOP TEN

Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) finished in eighth, eight tenths behind American star Gerloff, with Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) six tenths behind the #97 as he finished in ninth place. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) completed the top ten as he finished 1.1 seconds back from ‘El Bocia’.

NO GAINS FOR SAM LOWES, OLIVEIRA PENALISED

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was unable to make progress from his starting position of 10^th on the grid, and in fact lost one compared to his grid slot. The #14 came home in 11^th place, with around one second between Sam Lowes and Gardner. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 12^th ahead of Alex Lowes, who was 13^th despite his crash, while Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) and Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team); the Portuguese rider received a three-second penalty for course cutting without losing sufficient time, demoting him from 13^th.

CRASHING OUT OF RACE 2

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed out of the race on the exit of Turn 15 and the entry of Turn 16, after contact with Manzi on the entry into the chicane; the incident will be investigated after the race by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) fell at Turn 15 at the end of Lap 5, ending his race. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) had been enjoying a decent weekend, but he crashed at Turn 13 on Lap 12.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)
2. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +5.420s
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +9.378s
4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +13.908s
5. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +16.387s
6. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) +21.852s
   Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) – 1’35.159s

Championship Standings

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 553 Points
2. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 407
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 247
4. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) 201
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 198
6. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) 171

Next up, Cremona! Will Bulega be crowned Champion on home soil? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!