Blistering Lap Record Pace: Bulega Dominates Opening Day at Magny-Cours

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The French Round of WorldSBK got underway on Friday under tricky conditions, with the 4.411km Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours still showing damp patches after overnight rain. But by the end of the day, it was Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who stole the headlines. The Italian, sitting second in the championship standings, delivered a scorching lap that not only topped the timesheets but dipped under the existing official Superpole benchmark.

Bulega’s intent was clear from the start: aggressive in the opening sector, he truly stunned in the final portion of the lap, going more than two tenths quicker than any of his rivals. That closing speed cemented his position as the rider to beat heading into Saturday.

Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) approached the French Round with unfinished business. Still carrying memories of a crash here twelve months ago, the Turkish star opened the weekend fastest in Free Practice 1. In the afternoon he shifted his focus toward long-run pace, ultimately finishing fourth overall but completing a crucial 16-lap stint that gave him and BMW valuable data for Race 1. The championship leader’s focus is clear: consistency over outright one-lap glory.

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) again showed why he’s one of the breakout performers of the season. The Brit completed nearly 40 laps across the day and slotted into second, just four-tenths adrift of Bulega. For a rider who endured a disastrous outing here last year thanks to chaotic weather, Lowes’ sharp rhythm and calm execution marked an impressive turnaround.

Pata Maxus Yamaha enjoyed mixed fortunes. Andrea Locatelli placed third overall after a strong, steady program of improvements, while teammate Jonathan Rea finished down in seventh but with plenty of positives to take forward.

Honda’s Xavi Vierge began the day in fine form, fourth fastest in FP1, but a crash in the early stages of FP2 dented his progress. Even so, the Spaniard regrouped to salvage eighth on the combined timesheets. Within the HRC garage, the weekend carried extra buzz as Moto2 race winner Sergio Garcia joined the lineup for his first WorldSBK experience.

Rider Reactions – Day 1 at Magny-Cours

P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I feel quite good. We made a big step forward from the morning, but it’s still not enough. With used tyres the bike moves a lot at the rear, and it’s hard to manage. On new tyres the lap time came quite easily, but we need to keep finding more grip. Toprak is always strong here, so it’s important for me to push and stay ahead. If we can solve the rear-tyre issues, I believe we can take another step forward this weekend.”

P2 – Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team)
“Today was really positive. We started with a longer 15-lap run to test the race rhythm, and even with some small problems the overall feeling was strong. Last year this track was a disaster for me with the strange weather, so it almost feels like day one here. The pace is much better than anything I’ve done before at Magny-Cours, and there are still tenths to find in the last sector. We’re definitely in the podium fight.”

P3 – Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha)
“We had a good starting point this morning, and the afternoon was about refining the setup. The rhythm was strong, and I feel comfortable with the bike. The goal is to qualify on the front row tomorrow because that will be key for the race. Overall, it’s been a very solid start, and I’m confident we can keep improving.”

P4 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
“This morning it was not easy after what happened last year, but lap by lap the confidence came back. I did a 16-lap race simulation in the low 1’36s, which is very strong. We still need to improve in some corners, especially with engine braking, but I focused more on race pace today than a single fast lap. The target is clear: I want three wins this weekend.”

Combined Results after FP2

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) – 1’35.428
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) – +0.400
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) – +0.414
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) – +0.432
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) – +0.675
Alex Lowes (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) – +0.744

WorldSSP: Oncu Leads Yamaha Lockout

In the World Supersport class, Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) stormed to his third Superpole of the season with another lap record to his name. Despite suffering a technical hiccup on his fastest attempt, the Turkish rider had already done enough to secure pole by two tenths.

Championship leader Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) controlled much of the session before being edged into second, while Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) delighted home fans by clinching third. A late red flag set up a frantic dash in the closing minutes, with WorldSSP debutant Alberto Surra among the few able to improve, finishing a respectable seventh.

P1 – Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team)
“I’m very happy and I want to thank everyone. From practice through to Superpole, the team worked incredibly hard and stayed calm even when we had problems. We made a huge step forward. The engine stopped at the end so I couldn’t push for another lap, but thankfully the earlier time was enough. Tomorrow’s race will be tough, but I’ll give everything to stay on top.”

Superpole Results – WorldSSP

Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) – 1’39.442
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) – +0.221
Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) – +0.394
Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) – +0.449
Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) – +0.643
Federico Caricasulo (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) – +0.712

Veneman Returns with a Statement at Magny-Cours

Loris Veneman made his comeback to the WorldSSP300 paddock in emphatic style, immediately re-establishing himself as one of the class’ standout riders. Back on the grid with the MTM Kawasaki squad, the Dutchman — last season’s WorldSSP300 championship runner-up — stormed to Superpole with a blistering new lap record of 1’50.890. It was his fourth career pole in the category and a sharp reminder of the pace and precision that made him a title contender just a year ago.

Joining him on the front row is David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI), who continues to build a reputation as one of the most consistent qualifiers in the field. For the third time in five rounds, the Spaniard has secured the middle slot on the front row. His effort was four tenths shy of Veneman’s record lap but still strong enough to split the MTM Kawasakis. Alongside him will be Australian rookie Carter Thompson, who capped off Kawasaki’s dominance with third place.

Championship leader Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) had a slightly more complicated afternoon. The Spaniard left it late to post a representative lap time and wound up fifth overall, just over a second off Veneman’s pace. Despite starting from the second row, his ability to manage races smartly has kept him at the top of the standings, and he remains a key threat when the lights go out.

Behind the lead trio, Juan Risueno (MS Racing) impressed with fourth on the grid, narrowly edging Fernandez, while Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing) slotted into sixth after a spirited showing.

Rider Reaction – P1

Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) | 1’50.890s
“Friday couldn’t have gone better. My teammate and I were first and second in Free Practice, so we knew we had the pace for qualifying. The plan was to set a safe lap early, then push harder if I needed to — and in the end, I gave it everything. To be back at the sharp end and riding the bike exactly how I want feels fantastic. Of course, my target is to win tomorrow, but I’m not the only one with that goal. It’s going to be a big fight, and I’m ready for it.”