Bulega emerges on top as WorldSBK pre-season testing concludes.
Phillip Island, Australia
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) kept his momentum going on Day 2, setting an impressive 1’28.680 lap in the morning session. He was in the zone, with 17 out of 25 flying laps in the 1’29 range and two even quicker laps in the 1’28 bracket.
Ducati riders were on fire, filling four of the top five positions. Andrea Iannone (Pata GoEleven) came in second, just 0.498 seconds behind Bulega, while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) took third. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) rounded out the top five, showing more confidence on his Panigale V4 R.
Reigning Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) bounced back from his Day 1 crash to finish fourth in dry conditions and even managed to close the gap in the mixed final session, coming just 0.1 seconds shy of Bulega in FP4.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) secured sixth place as he fine-tuned Yamaha’s updated 2025 package. On the bimota side, Alex Lowes and teammate Axel Bassani were neck and neck, finishing seventh and eighth respectively, ensuring both stayed in the top 10.
Honda’s best performer, Xavi Vierge, clocked a 1’29.812 to claim ninth place. Meanwhile, Iker Lecuona, still recovering from an injury, struggled to find his rhythm and ended up in P20. Despite a crash at Turn 4, Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) managed to finish 13th, holding strong in the pre-season run.
Not all sessions were trouble-free—Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki) crashed at Turn 8, prompting red flags, and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) fell at Turn 3 in the final moments of FP4.
COMING NEXT:
With pre-season testing now wrapped up, all eyes are on Phillip Island as the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season opener kicks off this weekend.
P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I built on yesterday’s positive vibes today. I’m really happy with how the bike is feeling—everything is working smoothly. Of course, there’s always room to improve, and I’m keen to take it further. Testing is important for confidence, but it’s not about points. Heading into Friday, I feel good at this circuit and confident in our package. Honestly, I’d much rather be racing than testing, so I’m really looking forward to the first race!”
P2 – Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven)
“Today threw a few challenges our way—especially when rain disrupted our strategy in the afternoon. Still, we managed to get some good work done this morning. We’re short on time, so Friday will be all about tweaking our setup for the races. I’m optimistic about our starting position; there’s always room for improvement, but I’m confident we’re in good shape for the weekend.”
P3 – Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
“It was a much more positive day compared to yesterday. I’ve found a good rhythm with the bike, and I’m feeling optimistic for the weekend. The competition for a podium is going to be fierce, with at least 7-8 riders in the mix. Bulega is on another level right now, but I believe everyone in the top 10 has the potential to fight for a podium finish.”
P4 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
“After that crash on the second day, our main goal was to find the right setup for the race. We lost a couple of hours due to the crash and some afternoon rain, so we had limited time to work with. We’ve learned a few things and found a better setup, though we’re not completely there yet. I’m feeling much better now—after a few laps, the pain is manageable, and we even posted some good times on race tires. I’m excited for the race weekend; it’s all about finding the right balance and moving forward.”
Combined Results after FP4
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’28.680s, 42 laps
2. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) +0.482s, 31 laps
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.499s, 44 laps
4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.567s, 39 laps
5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.797s, 55 laps
6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.813s, 35 laps
Bendsneyder takes the lead once again as the WorldSSP Official Test wraps up.
Phillip Island, Australia
Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) once again topped the timesheets on Day 2, posting an impressive 1’31.595 lap—more than half a second ahead of his nearest rivals.
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) made a powerful statement, leading the session until the very end before settling for second with a 1’32.129 lap.
Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) continued his strong form by taking third for the second day in a row with a 1’32.332 lap.
Australian rider Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing Team) improved on his Day 1 performance, finishing seventh with a 1’32.557 lap. Meanwhile, Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) – the 2024 WorldSSP runner-up – clocked in eighth, just over a second behind Bendsneyder, as he continues to adapt to the Yamaha R9.
P1 – Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse)
“It was nearly a perfect day today. We focused on covering race distances and even ran a time attack. In our second practice, we simulated a full race—10 laps, a pit stop to change the rear tire, then another 8 laps. This helped us not only nail our race pace but also understand the ins and outs of the pit lane ahead of Saturday and Sunday’s races.
After the simulation, we pushed for a time attack, which went really well, so I’m very happy with today’s progress. Of course, it’s just testing—there are no points up for grabs. We’re keeping calm and focusing on our main goal. It’s a great way to start the season, but the real challenge comes on Saturday and Sunday when the points start rolling in.”
Combined Results after FP4
1. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 1’31.595s, 51 laps
2. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.534s, 46 laps
3. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +0.737s, 45 laps
4. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Racing) +0.792s, 58 laps
5. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +0.838s, 49 laps
6. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.949s, 65 laps
Official WorldSBK Press Release
