ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Nicolò Bulega won Race 1 of the Australian Superbike Gp that opened the 2026 season of the World Championship MOTUL FIM. At the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, the Emilian driver of Aruba.it Racing – Ducati dominated all 22 laps of the race, after winning the SuperPole. Bulega preceded Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), second to +4.776s, and the brand name Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven), third to +6.147s. In the order, then, from 4th to 6th place: the Venetian Axel Bassani (Bimota del Kawasaki Racing Team), to +6.183s, the British Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), to +8.249s, and the Spanish Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +12.549s.
Raggiante at the end of the race Bulega: “It was incredible. We were the fastest in each session, we started from pole and then we won Race 1. This track is super for me and every time I drive here I enjoy all the laps. When you have a good feeling with the bike, along a track like this, you create something you cannot explain. I’m very happy, I want to go on like this. Winning a test is never easy: you have to stay focused throughout the race, because everything can happen. You have to be precise, almost perfect, to manage the rubber and always drive fast.”.
To echo the other Italians climbed today on the podium. “It’s a dream to conquer my first podium in the WorldSBK. I want to thank the team for all the work done during the winter and during the tests here. We had a good basic setup since Monday and today we just had to finish the job. After a difficult season, that of 2025, it is really special to conquer my first podium. I’m really happy,” said Montella.
“It was like my WorldSSP debut when I won my first race in Aragon. Today I felt I really got to the WorldSBK and finishing on the podium is fantastic. I’m really excited. We did a great job this week. There is a fantastic atmosphere in the box and we are all working together step by step. The feeling from the first turns was good and then improved. We have conquered our first podium together: this means a lot to us,” said Baldassarri. In SuperPole Bulega he scored the best time ahead of Montella and Sam Lowes.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
