Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) delivered a flawless performance in front of a passionate home crowd at the Cremona Circuit, completing a clean sweep of all three races during the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s Italian Round. Leading a staggering 47 laps across the weekend, the Italian rider strengthened his claim to the WorldSBK title with a commanding display that thrilled the 43,234 spectators in attendance.

Race 2: Bulega Withstands Pressure to Seal the Deal

Starting from pole, Bulega launched strongly into Race 2 but was immediately challenged by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who made a daring move at the final corner to snatch the lead. The Turkish ace led the first four laps, showing his intent early on.

However, Bulega remained calm and composed, retaking the lead on lap five. From that point forward, he absorbed intense pressure from Razgatlioglu, never putting a wheel wrong. Though Toprak kept him honest for much of the race, Bulega slowly edged away, eventually crossing the line with a gap of 1.826 seconds after 23 laps of hard-fought racing.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the podium, maintaining a steady pace throughout. Although he couldn’t match the front two, the reigning champion ran a consistent race to finish third, securing important points and boosting morale after a challenging start to the weekend.

Petrucci Shines Among Independents

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) emerged as the top Independent Rider once again. Starting sixth on the grid, the Italian steadily worked his way forward, climbing into fourth place by the end of the opening third. He managed the remainder of the race smartly, maintaining position without pressure from behind.

Final Lap Fight for Fifth

The battle for fifth delivered some of the most exciting moments of the race. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) came out on top in a fierce duel, narrowly beating the Honda factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge. The trio traded positions throughout the final laps, but it was Lowes who held firm when it counted.

Championship Picture: Bulega Extends Advantage

With another win under his belt, Nicolo Bulega now enjoys a 34-point lead over Razgatlioglu in the WorldSBK standings. Ducati, meanwhile, significantly extends its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship—now sitting 61 points clear of BMW.

Next Stop: Czech Republic

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship continues with Round 5 at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic, taking place from May 16–18. With momentum firmly in Bulega’s corner, the battle with Razgatlioglu promises to heat up even further at a circuit where Toprak traditionally performs well.

Podium Rider Reactions: Race 2

P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

“If someone told me three days ago I’d win all three races at Cremona, I wouldn’t have believed them. This has been my most difficult track—I didn’t expect to do this well. Winning in Italy, with so many fans here, makes it even more special. Honestly, I used to dread this circuit, and now I’ve taken a hat-trick here. Toprak is always a big threat, especially at Most, so I’ll just give my all and see what happens. If I can’t win, I’ll try to stay close.”

P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)

“I gave it everything today. Nicolo had a great pace and the Ducati was just so strong here. I tried to stay with him and fought hard, but in the end, second place is still good. We made big improvements from Friday, and my team worked really hard. We’ll keep pushing and I’m looking forward to Most—I’ll be ready to fight again.”

P3 – Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

“It feels good to be back on the podium after a tough Friday. We made clear progress through the weekend and my pace today was a step forward. I couldn’t catch the guys in front, but I’m happy with our improvement. Racing in front of the Italian fans is always special.”

Race 2 – Official Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +1.826s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +8.995s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +17.888s
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +22.131s
6. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) +22.333s

Tissot Superpole Race Recap: Another Flag-to-Flag Victory for Bulega

In the 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race, Bulega once again took control from the outset. Starting from pole, the Italian rider didn’t look back as he led every lap, resisting all attempts by Razgatlioglu to find a way through. Toprak followed closely but ultimately had no answer to the Ducati’s straight-line speed and Bulega’s precision.

Alvaro Bautista secured third, completing another all-star podium for Ducati. Danilo Petrucci made an impressive charge from the fifth row to finish sixth, notably overtaking Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) with a well-timed move late in the race.

Iannone’s Rollercoaster Ride

Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) showed incredible speed off the line, but his jump start cost him dearly. Handed a double Long Lap Penalty, the Italian tumbled down the order but recovered well to take eighth. His strong pace earned him a second-row start for Race 2.

Superpole Race – Official Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +1.456s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +6.060s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha)
5. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC)
6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)

With three wins from three starts, Bulega’s Cremona performance will be remembered as one of the standout weekends of the 2025 WorldSBK season. As the series moves to Most, all eyes will be on whether he can keep this extraordinary run going—or if Toprak and company will close the gap.

Magnificent Manzi Doubles Up in Cremona Thriller

Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) delivered a masterclass in race craft and patience to complete a stunning double victory at the Cremona Circuit, capping off a perfect weekend at home in Italy. The local hero secured his second win of the event with a dramatic late-race move, keeping his title bid firmly on course.

Race 2: Calm, Calculated, Clinical

In a high-stakes 20-lap battle, Manzi spent the majority of the race stalking long-time leader Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura). The Italian remained composed as the laps ticked down, carefully studying Masia’s lines and biding his time.

After trailing by nearly a full second midway through the race, Manzi made his move count in the closing stages. With just three laps to go, he pounced decisively at Turn 13, slipping past Masia and immediately opening up a small gap.

The move proved decisive, as the Yamaha rider maintained his lead to the chequered flag, sealing back-to-back wins and adding another 25 points to his growing tally in the championship standings.

Podium Shake-Up in the Final Moments

Masia, who had led for much of the race and looked on course for a breakthrough win, saw his hopes of second place dashed on the final lap when Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) launched a bold attack and made it stick. The British rider’s charge in the closing laps was relentless, and his pass on Masia midway through the final tour secured him the runner-up spot.

Still, it was a career-first World Supersport podium for Masia, who held on for third and celebrated a major milestone in his fledgling campaign.

Debise Crashes Out in Late-Race Drama

Earlier in the race, Booth-Amos had been locked in a heated scrap with Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) as both riders battled hard for a spot on the rostrum. However, the fight ended in disappointment for Debise, who crashed out with four laps remaining while running inside the top four. The Frenchman’s fall handed a clearer path to the podium for Booth-Amos and Masia.

Bendsneyder Battles Back

Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), one of the pre-race favourites, endured a rough start to Race 2. After qualifying on the third row, he was shuffled well outside the top ten in the early laps. Despite the tough opening, the Dutch rider dug deep and mounted a strong recovery to climb back to fifth by the flag.

Bendsneyder’s late-race pace was solid, but he finished over three seconds adrift of fourth-placed Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA), indicating that setup or tyre issues may have hampered his charge in the early stages.

Championship Update: Manzi Increases His Lead

With his Cremona double, Manzi stretches his lead in the Riders’ Championship to 44 points over Bendsneyder. The Italian has now claimed three wins this season, compared to two for his MV Agusta rival. Booth-Amos also closed in on Bendsneyder and now sits just seven points behind in the standings.

In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Yamaha tightened its grip at the top with a commanding 54-point advantage, thanks in large part to Manzi’s exceptional weekend.

Winner’s Reaction: Stefano Manzi

“This feels amazing! With the race schedule, you almost don’t get a chance to enjoy the first win because you have to focus right away on Race 2. But now, I can finally say it was an incredible weekend for me. To take a double win here at home is just unbelievable. Today’s race was very tough, but I managed to stay calm and finish the job. I’m really happy.”

Race 2 – Official Results (World Supersport)

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.396s
3. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) +0.721s
4. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +6.304s
5. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +9.290s
6. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +14.306s

With the series now past the halfway point, Manzi’s consistency and race-craft are emerging as his greatest strengths. As the championship heads to the Czech Republic next, the question will be whether his rivals can halt his momentum—or if the Yamaha ace is destined to carry his winning form deeper into the season.

Official WorldSBK Press Release