Bautista and Bulega Build Momentum in Balaton Park Free Practice

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati riders Alvaro Bautista and Nicolò Bulega finish sixth and eighth in Hungarian Round free practice.

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The debut outing at Hungary’s Balaton Park circuit presented a fresh set of challenges for WorldSBK riders. Teams and competitors began familiarising themselves with the technical new layout. For the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, Friday’s free practice sessions were dedicated to setup refinement and data collection rather than chasing outright lap times.

Alvaro Bautista and Nicolò Bulega ended the day sixth and eighth, respectively, on the timesheets. Both managed to record lap times of 1’40.551 and 1’40.568. Notably, both riders refrained from mounting soft tyres for a time attack. Both were focusing instead on consistent race simulations and setup work, particularly crucial on a track where the third sector proved problematic for both.

A Strategic Approach on an Unfamiliar Track

Reigning champion Bautista described the day as “productive,” despite the rising temperatures that degraded track conditions in the afternoon. The Spaniard remained positive, stating:

“We worked hard on the setup to find a good feeling. I’m satisfied because, despite the worsening track conditions due to the high temperature in the afternoon, we managed to match the time set in the morning.”

With an unpredictable weather forecast for Saturday, Bautista added that the team’s disciplined approach on Friday could pay dividends as the weekend unfolds.

Bulega Aims to Regain Braking Confidence

For Nicolò Bulega, Friday was less smooth. The Italian rookie, still adjusting to the Superbike class, cited braking issues as the main concern:

“We struggled to find a good feeling with the bike, especially when braking. The goal for tomorrow is to improve in this area so that we can maintain a consistent pace throughout the lap.”

Despite finishing just two-tenths off the fastest time, Bulega remained focused on improving his race rhythm ahead of qualifying and Race 1.

Looking Ahead

Both riders will be opting for long-run consistency over one-lap performance. The Ducati squad appears to be laying solid groundwork for the rest of the weekend. The new Balaton Park circuit has already demonstrated its complexity. Thus, adaptability will be key as teams anticipate mixed conditions in Saturday’s FP3, Superpole, and Race 1 sessions.

As it stands, Ducati’s factory effort is positioned well for further gains, with both riders well within reach of the front.