Nicolò Bulega Leads Two-Day Test at Phillip Island

Get the latest insights from the 2025 World Superbike pre-season test at Phillip Island, where Nicolò Bulega dominated the sessions and Alvaro Bautista found his rhythm with Ducati.

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The 2025 World Superbike Championship preseason concluded with an intense two-day test at Phillip Island, Australia. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team made a strong statement, with Nicolò Bulega topping the timesheets across all four sessions and Alvaro Bautista securing an encouraging fifth place.

Dominant Performance from Bulega

Nicolò Bulega showcased impressive speed and consistency throughout the test, leading every session and setting the fastest lap of 1’28.680. Despite rain affecting the final session, his performance demonstrated the potential of the Ducati Panigale V4R ahead of the season opener.

Bulega expressed his confidence going into the first round:

“It was an excellent two days of testing, so we confidently arrived at the season’s first round. We have worked hard to gather important information that we can use to iron out the final details in these two days before free practice. I feel confident because this is my favourite circuit. I can’t wait to get back on track.”

Bautista Rediscovers His Rhythm

Alvaro Bautista also had a productive test, finishing in the top five with a best lap of 1’29.477. More importantly, the Spanish rider seemed to have regained his confidence in the Ducati after struggling with tricky conditions in previous tests at Jerez and Portimao.

Reflecting on his performance, Bautista said:

“I’m delighted with how things went in these tests. I’ve found the feeling I’ve been seeking for a long time. Finally, we could ride on track with excellent continuity after the bad weather we experienced in Jerez and Portimao. I am also pleased with our work with the tyres, which allows us to have clear ideas.”

Top Five Combined Results from the Phillip Island Test:

1. Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) – 1’28.680
2. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) – 1’29.162 (+0.482s)
3. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) – 1’29.179 (+0.499s)
4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) – 1’29.247 (+0.567s)
5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) – 1’29.477 (+0.797s)

Looking Ahead to the Season Opener

With Bulega setting the pace and Bautista finding his groove, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team enters the season opener at Phillip Island in a strong position. The insights gained during testing will be crucial as they fine-tune their setups before the first race weekend kicks off on Friday.

Fans can expect an exciting start to the 2025 World Superbike Championship.