The 2025 WorldSBK round at Cremona Circuit kicked off under ideal skies but searing track temperatures, with Italy’s own Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) emerging as the fastest man on Friday. Leading both Free Practice sessions, Bulega made the most of home advantage, finishing ahead of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in what’s already shaping up to be a fierce battle.
Free Practice Recap: Bulega’s Strong Start
Nicolo Bulega wasted no time settling in at the 3.768km Cremona Circuit, logging 39 laps across both sessions and stamping his authority with a best time of 1’29.158. The Ducati rider was consistently quick and finished fastest in both FP1 and FP2, setting the tone for the weekend.
Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who didn’t race at Cremona last year, used Friday to get to grips with the track. He completed 35 laps and ended just 0.3 seconds off Bulega’s pace, showing how quickly he adapted to the challenging conditions.
Heat and Hazards: Rising Temperatures Challenge the Field
Track temperatures were brutal, climbing to 40°C in FP1 and pushing nearly 50°C by the afternoon. The hot asphalt proved unforgiving, contributing to several crashes throughout the day. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) went down in FP1 but still managed the third fastest time overall. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a tougher time, crashing three times and ending the day eighth on the timesheets after just 18 laps.
Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) put in the most mileage of the day with 41 laps, finishing fourth, while Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) slotted into fifth, continuing his steady progress.
Jonathan Rea Returns to Action
Making his much-anticipated return after missing the opening three rounds due to injury, six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was back in action at Cremona. He completed a solid 36 laps, working through a full program of setup work. Although he ended the day 21st, the goal was clearly about rebuilding rhythm rather than chasing lap times.
Rider Reactions: Key Quotes from the Top Three
P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I’ve carried a good mindset from Assen into this weekend, where I felt really fast. Even though Cremona isn’t my favorite track — my riding style doesn’t match it perfectly — I felt good today. I’m working closely with my mechanics to keep improving. Toprak’s going to be fast here, and there are others in the mix too. Tyre wear looks okay on our side, and the pace is strong. But we need to push further because everyone will improve tomorrow.”
P2 – Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
“We’re still fine-tuning the bike setup, especially at the rear. The hot conditions made us realize we needed more grip back there, so we adjusted our approach mid-session. The changes helped — I felt more grip on the final run and set a strong lap. Bulega is consistently quick, but we’re catching up. After missing Cremona last year, it’s fun to ride here. Hopefully, we can find even more tomorrow.”
P3 – Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
“There’s a lot of pressure on me — it’s our home race, and I won here last year. I had a small crash this morning with no warning, but overall, I’m happy with how the day went. The heat makes it difficult to find rear traction and stay out of trouble, so I’m keeping calm and not thinking about winning just yet. My goal is to qualify on the first or second row and go from there. If I can finish in the top five or grab a podium, I’ll be very satisfied.”
Final Thoughts
With lap times tight at the top and scorching heat creating unpredictable conditions, the stage is set for a dramatic Superpole and race weekend at Cremona. Bulega leads the charge, but with Toprak closing the gap and Petrucci showing strong form, nothing is certain. Add in the challenges of tyre management and the return of veterans like Jonathan Rea, and Saturday’s action promises plenty of twists.
Combined Results after FP2
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’29.158s
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) 1’29.465s +0.307s
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’29.537s +0.379s
4. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) 1’29.621s +0.463s
5. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) 1’29.640s +0.482s
6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’29.669s +0.511s
Caricasulo Clinches First Pole of the Season in Historic Supersport Session
Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing Team) made headlines on Saturday by securing his first pole position of the 2025 season during Supersport Superpole. The Italian rider delivered a commanding performance at Cremona to take the top spot on the grid with a landmark achievement.
A Pole with History Behind It
Caricasulo’s effort marked his 13th career Superpole in the Supersport class and his first since Imola 2023. More significantly, it established him as the first rider in Supersport history to claim pole position riding for four different manufacturers—a testament to his versatility and consistency across varying machinery.
Yamaha Duo Rounds Out the Front Row
Joining Caricasulo on the front row are Can Öncü (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), both of whom showed impressive coordination during the session. The Yamaha pair worked together strategically during the closing laps to extract the maximum from their bikes and push for top times.
Challenges for Booth-Amos and Others
Not everyone had a smooth qualifying session. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing), one of the championship’s key title contenders, suffered a crash during the session, one of several riders caught out by tricky conditions. Despite the setback, the Brit will start from the third row, keeping him in the mix for a comeback on race day.
Pole-Sitter Caricasulo Reflects on Qualifying
P1 – Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing Team)
“I felt really good on the bike today, and we made a big step forward from this morning’s sessions. We were already fast, so it’s great to see that we could still improve. Huge credit to my team and especially my crew chief—they’ve done a fantastic job. I feel confident for tomorrow, but I know it’s going to be a tough race. There are a lot of fast riders—Yamahas, other MVs—and I think the top six or seven could all be in podium contention. A fast lap in qualifying is one thing, but race pace is something else entirely. Still, we’ve improved in that area too, so I’m hopeful we can be part of the fight at the front.”
Looking Ahead
With multiple manufacturers represented at the sharp end of the grid and several strong race contenders scattered across the top ten, Sunday’s race promises to be a tightly contested battle. Caricasulo’s return to pole adds intrigue to what’s already shaping up to be one of the most competitive rounds of the Supersport season.
1. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME air Racing) 1’31.728s
2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.040s
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.115s
4. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.125s
5. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.296s
6. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +0.320s
