Consistency is key. Nicolo Bulega has taken victory in WorldSBK's Race 1 this afternoon at the Phillip Island Circuit after dominating the free practice time charts and securing first place in the Tissot Superpole. Bulega, pictured alongside Ducati crew on the grid prior to lights out.
Tito Rabat entertaining crowds after WorldSBK's Tissot Superpole.
Xavi Vierge on the grid prior to Race 1 getting underway. The Spaniard completed the 20-lapper just outside the top 10 in eleventh place.
Home hero Remy Gardner qualified ninth on the grid, however didn't get to see the chequered flag due to technical issues causing the Aussie to retire on Lap 12.
Andrea Locatelli on the grid before lights out for Race 1. The Italian piloted his Yamaha R1 to seventh place.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) has continued his strong performance throughout Round 1 of the 2025 WorldSBK championship season, taking victory during Race 1 today at the Phillip Island Circuit.
Prevailing on the time sheets in all three free practice sessions and topping the Tissot Superpole, Bulega began Race 1 this afternoon on pole position in sweltering conditions.
Alongside the Italian, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) made up row one of the grid.
As the lights went out for the first main race of the categories season, Bulega fended off the rest of the field creating a comfortable four-second gap in the process, solidifying his lead for the 20-lap race.
Looking down to the remainder of the grid, 2024 World Champion Razgatlioglu ensued his battle for second against Iannone, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing).
Razgatlioglu crossed the finish line with P2 secured, nearly five seconds behind Bulega.
Bautista followed suit in third with just under three-tenths of a second separating the factory Ducati rider and second placed Razgatlioglu.
Excelling in the independant manufacturers, Danillo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing) crossed the line in fourth place 1.705 seconds later.
Redding tailed closely behind, rounding out the top five for Race 1.
Aussie
Home hero, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha) qualified for Race 1 just inside the top ten at ninth on the grid.
However his commendable efforts came to an early end after suffering a technical issue during the second half of the 20-lapper, resulting in a DNF at the end of Lap 12.
Tomorrow sees WorldSBK’s Tissot Superpole Race kick off at 1pm and Race 2 at 4pm.
The full days action begins at 9.10am in which the Australian Supersport 300s, Australian Superbikes, Australian Supersport and WorldSSP will take to the track for their respective races.
See more WorldSBK news at www.worldsbk.com
See the days Australian Superbike news at www.asbk.com.au
