WorldSBK : Bulega Heads FP2 At Cremona

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) concluded Friday on top once again in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as he ended the day three tenths clear of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) after two Free Practice sessions at the Cremona Circuit. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed third as the Acerbis Italian Round got underway while Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had three crashes on a tricky day for the #19 in Italy.

BULEGA ON TOP, BAUTISTA CRASHES THREE TIMES: a mixed day for the #11 and #19

As seen so often in 2025, Bulega led the Ducati charge on Friday as he claimed P1 in both FP1 and FP2, remaining unbeatable on Friday as he looks to bounce back from his double retirement on Sunday at Assen. His fastest time was a 1’29.158s in FP1 for the fastest time of the day, though his FP2 time of 1’29.250s was good enough to top the times in FP2. Teammate Bautista was eighth despite three crashes across both sessions, with two coming in FP2 – he crashed at Turn 2 in FP1 and again in FP2, with a fall at Turn 8 sandwiched between the two. Petrucci was third overall after his 1’29.537s in FP1 was good enough for the top three despite a fall in the morning session at Turn 2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was the fourth-fastest Ducati as his strong form continued with sixth on Friday, finishing ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) in 11^th, ‘The Maniac’ fell in FP1 at Turn 11. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was 14^th with Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) and wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax) the last of the Ducati riders in 19^th and 23^rd respectively.

RAZGATLIOGLU MOVES INTO SECOND: a late lap from ‘El Turco’ surges him up the order

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) put in a late lap to move into second place in FP2 and overall with a 1’29.465s to finish three tenths away from his title rival. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was down in 16^th place after setting a 1’30.208s, with the Dutchman one of five riders who crashed in FP1 when he fell at Turn 11.

POSITIVE START FOR HONDA: Lecuona in P4

Honda enjoyed a strong start to the Italian Round with Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) claiming fourth place, ensuring four manufacturers in the top four, with a 1’29.621s which he set in FP1. Teammate Xavi Vierge was down in tenth in the combined classification but he was seventh in FP1 as the Japanese manufacturer showed good form at the start of the weekend. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was 20^th after setting a 1’30.542s in FP2 while teammate Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) rounded out the WorldSBK field.

BASSANI LOOKING QUICK AT HOME: a top-five for ‘El Bocia’

Bimota’s charge on Friday was led by home hero Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) as ‘El Bocia’ took second in FP2 and fifth overall, finishing around a tenth ahead of teammate Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) as the Italian brand started their first home weekend in WorldSBK since their return. Bassani did have a crash in FP2 at Turn 13 right at the end of the session when on a hot lap, though was able to re-mount his machine.

LOCATELLI SEVENTH AS REA MAKES COMEBACK: ‘Loka’ in the top ten again

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) led Yamaha’s charge as he claimed seventh place with a 1’29.704s, set in FP2, to trail compatriot Bulega by half-a-second on Friday. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was his nearest challenge on the Yamaha R1 machine in 12^th place, with Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) an impressive 15^th in the combined times after setting a 1’30.079s in FP2. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 17^th ahead of the returning Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) in 21^st as he made his comeback from injury and Tito Rabat (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) in 22^nd.

GERLOFF IN 18^TH: just over a second off P1 in FP2

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was in 18^th place at the end of Friday’s action with a 1’30.448s, improving his time in FP2 compared to FP1 and lapping just over a second as Bulega’s pace-setting time from FP2.

The top six from WorldSBK on Friday, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’29.158s

2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’29.465s +0.307s

3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’29.537s +0.379s

4. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) 1’29.621s +0.463s

5. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) 1’29.640s +0.482s

6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’29.669s +0.511s

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