Nicolo Bulega gave the Italian fans exactly what they came for at the Cremona Circuit, securing an emphatic win in Race 1 of the Italian Round. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider delivered his fifth win of the season in style, further tightening his grip on the WorldSBK Championship standings. The home crowd turned out in force, packing the grandstands and podium area to celebrate the young Italian’s latest triumph.
Race 1: Action from Start to Finish
Bulega started the race from pole position but was immediately under pressure from Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Making his debut at the Cremona Circuit, Razgatlioglu wasted no time asserting himself at the front, leading the opening five laps with his trademark aggression.
On Lap 6, Bulega found his moment. He executed a well-timed pass and began pulling away, setting a relentless pace that Razgatlioglu couldn’t match over the full race distance. Although the Turkish star attempted to retaliate—particularly with a bold move at the final corner—Bulega’s consistency and speed through Turn 11 gave him the edge.
As the race unfolded, Bulega extended his lead to a full second and then managed the gap smartly. By the chequered flag, he had built a comfortable 2.8-second margin over Razgatlioglu, capping off a commanding performance that sets the stage for a thrilling Tissot Superpole Race on Sunday.
Bautista Makes It a Double Podium for Ducati
Alvaro Bautista ensured both factory Ducatis stood on the podium, crossing the line in third place. The reigning double World Champion endured a solitary race, finishing eight seconds adrift of Razgatlioglu and over ten seconds clear of the chasing group.
While he couldn’t challenge for the win, Bautista was satisfied with a clean, mistake-free ride after recent struggles in Race 1s. The result also gave Ducati valuable points in the team and manufacturers’ standings.
Midfield Battles and Late-Race Drama
Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) led the second group of riders, battling hard throughout the race to claim fourth place. Though he appeared to struggle with pace at times, the Italian maintained position well and never dropped outside the top five. When Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) overtook him around the halfway mark, it seemed like Iannone might fade. Instead, he held his ground—and when Lecuona crashed out two-thirds through the race, Iannone moved back into fourth.
Lecuona’s fall was a blow for Honda, but his teammate Xavi Vierge salvaged some optimism by securing a season-best fifth place. The Spaniard ran a steady and composed race, making the most of others’ misfortunes to bring home valuable points for HRC.
Championship Picture: Bulega Extends His Lead
Saturday’s victory extends Bulega’s lead in the championship standings to 26 points over Razgatlioglu. The Ducati rider is making a strong case for the title in his debut WorldSBK season and continues to grow in confidence with each race weekend.
Alvaro Bautista, meanwhile, closed the gap to Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli in the standings. Locatelli suffered a crash in the early stages of the race and failed to score points for the first time in the 2025 season, handing Bautista a valuable opportunity to close in.
Independent Standings: Petrucci Holds Firm
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) came home in seventh and continues to lead the Independent Rider Standings. He now holds a 26-point advantage over Andrea Iannone, with Sam Lowes trailing a further eight points behind.
Rider Reactions: What They Said After the Race
🥇 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) – P1
“I really needed to win this race after what happened in Assen. To win in Italy is incredible—and to do it here at Cremona, a track that’s very tough for me, makes it even more special. It shows that we’ve taken a real step forward compared to last year. Toprak was really aggressive, as always, and I knew he’d try to stop me early on. But I stayed calm. I knew my pace was better and once I got ahead, I just focused on riding clean laps. My strategy worked. Let’s see what happens tomorrow—I’m ready to give my best again.”
🥈 Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) – P2
“We started strong and I wanted to get ahead of Bulega early because I knew he’d be quick. I managed to lead for a few laps, but I made a mistake in the last corner where he got past me. After that, I couldn’t keep up—he had better pace. Usually I wouldn’t be satisfied with second, but it feels like we’ve made progress with the bike. I didn’t race here last year, so I’m still learning. We’ve got two more races tomorrow, and I’ll give it everything to fight for the win.”
🥉 Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) – P3
“Today was a big step forward from yesterday. Maybe we lost something in terms of performance because I couldn’t push as hard early on, which meant I lost the tow from the front two. After that, it was tough to close the gap, so I focused on finishing the race cleanly. I didn’t finish Race 1 in the last couple of rounds, so this was important for my confidence. We gathered some good data and I’m pleased with the podium—now we’ll try to improve for tomorrow.”
Race 1 – Full Results
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +2.835s
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +11.424s
- Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +23.247s
- Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +23.778s
- Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +24.115s
- Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
Stefano Manzi Clinches Home Victory in Supersport Thriller at Cremona
Italian fans had plenty to cheer about on Saturday as Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) powered to a hard-fought victory in a dramatic World Supersport race at the Cremona Circuit. The 20-lap showdown was a closely contested affair, with the top four riders separated by less than a second for much of the race. For Manzi, it was a well-earned second win of the 2025 season—and one that required every ounce of his racecraft and composure.
Fierce Fight at the Front
From the opening lap, it was clear that this race would be anything but straightforward for Manzi. While he spent every lap in either first or second place and led more than half the laps, the relentless pressure from his rivals meant there was no room for error.
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) launched an aggressive charge, taking the lead for nine laps and looking poised to steal the win. However, in the closing stages, Masia faded slightly and ultimately missed out on the podium by the narrowest of margins, finishing fourth.
Booth-Amos Climbs Through the Pack
Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) delivered one of the standout rides of the day. Starting from the third row, the Englishman picked his way steadily through the field, positioning himself in the lead group and keeping the pressure on Manzi throughout the second half of the race.
Though visibly disappointed not to convert his pace into a win, Booth-Amos walked away with 20 crucial points for the championship—points that could prove vital in the long run.
First Podium for Debise and Renzi Corse
For Frenchman Valentin Debise, the race was a breakthrough. Riding for Renzi Corse, Debise rode a controlled and consistent race, seizing the opportunity when it came to secure third place—his first podium in WorldSSP, and a historic first for the team.
Still in search of a maiden Supersport victory, Debise nonetheless took a significant step forward with this result, showing that both he and the Renzi Corse outfit are on the rise.
Bendsneyder’s Recovery Drive
Title contender Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) had a far more difficult outing. Starting from the second row, the Dutch rider was shuffled down the order after a chaotic opening lap that saw him fall outside the top ten.
Despite the early setback, Bendsneyder dug deep and fought his way back to seventh place by the finish. It wasn’t the result he was hoping for, but he salvaged valuable championship points to stay in the title hunt.
Championship Picture: Manzi Breaks Away
With his victory at Cremona, Stefano Manzi now extends his lead in the WorldSSP Championship to 30 points over Bendsneyder. It’s a critical buffer as the series heads into the next phase of the season.
Yamaha also strengthened their position in the manufacturers’ standings, now leading by 40 points over MV Agusta and 56 points ahead of Triumph—an encouraging sign of their consistency and depth across the grid.
Rider Reaction: Manzi Relieved and Refocused
🥇 Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) – P1
“I haven’t had bad results recently, but finishing second again and again really starts to wear on you. After a string of podiums, I wanted this win so badly—especially here, in Italy. The race was so close; my rivals were strong today, and it definitely wasn’t easy. I’m really happy with the win, but we’re not stopping. There’s another race tomorrow, and I’m already thinking about it. I want to enjoy this, but I’m focused on what’s next. Hopefully, we can fight at the front again.”
Race 1 Results
1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.344s
3. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +0.601s
4. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +1.109s
5. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +5.628s
6. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +6.541s
Official WorldSBK Press Release
