Nicolò Bulega kicked off the Superbike 2025 season in style during the first free practice session (FP1) at the Cremona Circuit, clocking in the fastest time of 1:29.158. The Ducati rider demonstrated his prowess on the track, despite previously expressing concerns about the circuit not suiting his riding style. His performance has set a strong tone for the weekend ahead, especially after a tumultuous round at Assen where technical issues led to two retirements and a missed opportunity for valuable points.
Bulega's impressive lap time placed him ahead of fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci, who finished second, 0.379 seconds behind. Petrucci, the reigning champion of the previous year’s Italian round, had a moment of drama when he crashed in Turn 2 during the session but managed to recover without serious injury, completing a total of 11 laps.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, riding for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, took third place, finishing just 0.016 seconds behind Petrucci. Razgatlioglu's performance was particularly notable as he had not raced at this track last year due to an injury. He appears to be in good form, closing the gap to the front runners.
The session was marred by a number of crashes, including those of Andrea Iannone and Alvaro Bautista. Bautista, who managed only three laps before crashing, finished in a disappointing 21st position. The incident was particularly frustrating as it limited his time to fine-tune his bike for the upcoming sessions. Iannone, who also fell early in the session, ended up in 12th place, while Michael van der Mark suffered a fall that left him in 16th.
Despite the crashes, Iker Lecuona had a solid outing, finishing fourth with a time that showed promise for his Honda team. Lecuona's teammate, Xavi Vierge, also performed well, securing a seventh-place finish. The two Lowes brothers, Sam and Alex, rounded out the top five and six, respectively, with Sam riding a Ducati and Alex on a Bimota.
Jonathan Rea, returning from injury after a long recovery, found himself in 17th place. Rea has been cautious as he regains his rhythm and confidence on the bike, following his absence due to injuries sustained earlier in the season.
As the teams prepare for the next practice session, discussions in the Ducati camp are focused on resolving a persistent issue with a faulty pick-up sensor that affected Bulega's bike during the previous round. This problem had previously cost him significant points, and the team is keen to ensure it doesn’t resurface this weekend.
The atmosphere in the paddock is charged as teams and riders gear up for the upcoming races. With Bulega leading the charge, the competition is fierce, and fans can expect an exciting weekend of racing.
In summary, Nicolò Bulega's performance in FP1 at Cremona sets a positive precedent for the Ducati team, while the challenges faced by other riders highlight the unpredictable nature of Superbike racing. As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on the competitors as they strive for victory on the Italian track.
