Nicolo Bulega: ‘I would have signed for second place behind Toprak two months ago’
Nicolo Bulega was left u🦩pbeat following Race 1 of🌳 the Catalunya WorldSBK round, despite being caught and passed by Toprak Razgatlioglu for victory.
Nicolo Bulega led much of the race as ꦏhe stretch💛ed clear from the likes of Andrea Iannone and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Bulega inherited the lead a few laps in when fellow rookie Sam Lowes crashed out, which began 🀅a series of very fast laps from the🌱 Italian.
- 2024 World Superbike Catal൩unya - Race (1) Results - Toprak Razgatlioglu wins
- 20🐎24 World Superbike Catalunya - Superpole Results
But despite being in control for much of the race, Bulega eventually ran in♏to tyre wear issues and began shedding time to Razgatlioglu.
Afte♊r being caught on the penultimatওe lap, Bulega lost the lead at turn five before finishing just under a second down on the BMW rider.
“Honestly, I didn’🃏t have a strategy,” said Bulega. “It was my first long race because in Australia we did a pit stop.
“In the end, unfortunately my rear tyre was complet𒉰ely dead. It was dif﷽ficult for me to manage and Toprak was very fast in the end.
“His tyre life was a bit better than mine. Maybe I pushed a little bit tꦆoo much at the beginning to overtake them because I was very fast.
“Today, I think I ♍learned someꦐthing. I will be more prepared next time.”
Bulega made a g🔯ood start 💎to Race 1, something he struggled to do throughout the season-opener.
However, Bulega was sti🐼ll pushed down order after being overtaken by Iannone and Lowes at the first corner.
﷽Admitting he could be more aggressive, Bulega s🥂aid: “The start was good because I improved a lot from Australia.
“Then, in the first corner; I don’t remember who it was - maybe Lowes - entered very aggres✨sively and I lost some positions.
“I’🦂m happy because I improved the start but maybe I can be a bit more aggressive in the first few corners.”
Asked when he began suffering with his rear tyre, Bul💧ega said he could do nothing to stop the gap to Razgatlioglu from dropping with three ꦺlaps remaining.
Bulega added: “Three laps to go🦩. My pit board guy gave me the seconds and I saw 3, 2, 1 but it was not en📖ough to win the race.
“༒I’m happy bec🍌ause I’m a rookie and I’m only at my second round.
“If you asked me two months ago I wouldไ sign for a second place behind Toprak on t𝓰he last lap.
“So it is a nice first two races for me and i🌺t’s more experience.”
