Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1526959
pace of eventual winner Petrucci ensured that Danilo made some history beyond his status as a first-time WorldSBK race winner. He was the 18th rider to have won a MotoGP and a WorldSBK race, and more importantly, he is the first rider to have achieved these, plus a stage win at the Dakar Rally Raid. (He is also a past STK1000 and STK600 race winner inside the WorldSBK pad - dock and a MotoAmerica race winner—an Italian Swiss Army knife of a rider.) With Bulega second and gain - ing another 20 points on the absent Razgatlioglu, an amazing ride from the still-injured Al - varo Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) saw him third. Broken rib and all, he came to the podium from the 13th grid spot. Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) was fourth, partly because podium-placed Alex Lowes and Iannone fell, but it was still real progress for Honda. In the Superpole race on a dry Sunday morning, Petrucci seized the lead from third place on the grid and easily won over Alex Lowes. Lowes ran on the SCX-A race tire, but his main podium rivals were on SCQ (softer) rears. Lowes was initially passed by Bulega, but as the lap count decreased, Lowes' rear grip remained stronger. He re-passed Bulega and then caught and passed the long-time second- place rider, Iannone. He finally finished third—his first podium since the race at Most in July. Bulega was fourth, but his bike stopped trackside on the slowing-down lap and appeared to have caught fire, according to Iannone, who was riding with him. Bulega clearly wanted to distance himself from any poten - tial bike fire without dropping his machine. After inspection in the pits, he mentioned it was just a minor technical issue. In another strong ride for Honda, Lecuona was fifth in the Superpole race. The final long race—23 laps of a short and intense 3.768 km circuit—was held in sunny and warm conditions. Petrucci once again cleared off to secure a de - cisive victory, achieving a remark- able triple win for himself, Italy, a brand-new Italian track, and a team that has endured some lean years to emerge as more than just race winners (beginning with Nicholas Spinelli in Assen) but as consistent champions. And it all happened at Cremo - na, less than an hour from the Barni Spark Ducati team's base near Bergamo. Bulega would be hunted down by Bautista as the lap count ticked down, and then he was finally passed right at the end, with Bulega unable to fight back. Iannone's excellent opportunity for a podium ended in a techni - cal retirement, ensuring that Bulega secured third place. Fourth went to the rapidly ad - vancing Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), a big midfield mover. Even with no back brake for much of the race. He had even passed early podium posi - tion hopeful Iannone before he retired. Lowes would have to give up fourth place to Gerloff right at the end. Sixth for Lecuona was his "worst" result of this round but equaled his best finish in any other 2024 round. With Toprak at an unchanged 365 points, Bulega is now only 13 points behind. But for the VOLUME ISSUE SEPTEMBER , P45 Nicolo Bulega is now just 13 points behind WorldSBK Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu, who could not race in Italy due to injury.