Nicolo Bulega calls debut WorldSBK win ‘maybe the best day of my life’
Nicolo Bulega took a sensational first WorldSBK win aft🐬er dominating the opening r🥂ace of the year at Phillip Island.
After setting a new lap record in qualifying to secure his maiden WorldSBK pole, Nicolo Bulega proved to be just as formidable in Race 1 of the Aus𒁃t♌ralian round.
The Italian had better pace than anyone🐠, while his manda𒊎tory pit stop also went swimmingly.
Bulega’s race start was the only hiccup as he dropped from first to fifth, b꧃ut a quick recovery saw him overtake reigning world champion team-mate Alvaro Bautista, before a move on Toprak Razgatlioglu at turn ten🐭 [lap four].
Speaking post-race, Bulega said: “It’s maybe the 🌃best day of my life. Difficult to believe it but it’s something incredible. I have been🐈 dreaming about this moment and now it is a reality.
“I did the pole position, victo❀ry in my first 🐷race and a new lap record. It is something I will never forget.
“I started to cry a little bit and th๊en it was just a good emotion because I saw all my guys on t🌼he finish line with incredible smiles.”
Before taking the lea𒀰d Bulega admitted he was happy to stay in the pack until his pace be🧔came ‘much faster’.
Once Bulega took the lead, only Andrea Iannone and Alex Lowes were able to keep t🐻he factory Ducati rider in check.
But that didn’t remain the case for the entire race a𒉰nd Bulega said applying pressure early on was key.
“I started really b✱adly,” began Bulega. “I did not release the clutch perfectly but then the first laps I was ꦺfourth or fifth, but I stayed in the back and felt faster.
“I 💞thought they weren’t going too fast to ꦓsave the tyres so I stayed there.
“But then I was much faster than them. I had to go to the front to do my pace. I think it w🍎as the key.”
