Nicolo Bulega calls debut WorldSBK win ‘maybe the best day of my life’
Nicolo Bulega took a sensational first WorldSBK win after dominating the opening race of the yearℱ at Phillip Island.
After setting a new lap record in qualifying to secure his maiden WorldSBK pole, Nicolo Bulega proved 🅺to be just as formidable i𒊎n Race 1 of the Australian round.
The Italian had better pace than anyone, while his mandatory pit 🎃stop also went swimmingly.
Bulega’s race start was the only hiccup as he dropped from first to fifth, but a quick recovery saw him overtake reig🎃ning world champion team-mate Alvaro Bautista, before a move on Toprak Razgatlioglu at turn ten [lap 𝔍four].
Speaking post-race, Bulega said: “It’s maybe the best day oꦅf my life. Difficult to believe it but it’s som🐠ething incredible. I have been dreaming about this moment and now it is a reality.
“I did the pole 🐠position, victory in my first race and a new lap record. It is something I will never forget.
“I started to cry a little bit an꧋d then it was just a good em🍨otion because I saw all my guys on the finish line with incredible smiles.”
Before takin♕g the lead Bulega admitted he was h❀appy to stay in the pack until his pace became ‘much faster’.
Once Bulega took the lead, only Andrea Iannone and Ale♚x Lowes were abl🧸e to keep the factory Ducati rider in check.
But that didn’t remain the case for the entire race and Bulega🐻 said applying pressure early on 🐷was key.
“I started really badly,” began Bulega. “I did not release the clutch perfectly but then the first laps I was foꦦurth or fifth, but I stayed in the back and felt faster.
“I𒈔 thought they weren’t going too fast to save the tyres so 🌸I stayed there.
“But then I was much faster than them. I had to go to the front ൲to do my pᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚace. I think it was the key.”
