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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1545207
WIND IN THE P62 Bulega, Ducati Dominate Motorland WorldSBK I n the blistering heat of day one at the Motorland Aragon round of the FIM WorldSBK Champion- ship, May 29-31, nobody was setting lap times that set the ambient air and track condi - tions (95°F and well over 122°F, respectively) on fire. On a slightly cooler day two, during Superpole Qualifying, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing - Ducati) lit his own untouchable afterburners to set a new track- best lap time of 1:46.836. In Saturday's slightly milder temperatures, Bulega delivered another masterclass in heading off into a wild red yonder, winning by just 1.274 seconds from Lecu - ona, a margin that still felt like half a lap if he had wanted it to be. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing) finished a solid third, and an almost perfect race from Alex Lowes (BbKRT) put him fourth. But the best non-Ducati rider was still a hefty 16 seconds back. Former BSB Champion Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) qualified seventh and finished fifth, which he praised everyone else for, in a team that made a last-minute entry to WorldSBK this year, to say the least. He also credited having so many (virtual, not literal) team - mates under the greater Ducati awning, as he and everyone on a V4-R can view each other's data. Sunday's 10-lap Superpole race, however fleetingly, offered the genuine prospect of a non- Bulega win, as he was down in the early order on a harder tire choice, watching Lecuona and Sam Lowes battle for the poten - tial victory. Eventually, Bulega pushed on and, to prove he can really influence the results if he wants, set a new lap record of 1:47.709 on the very last lap, beating his teammate by half a second. Sam Lowes was third, with Alberto Surra fourth (Motocorsa Ducati) and, again, the top non- Ducati rider, Alex Lowes, in fifth. The final race of the weekend was, unfortunately, little like the Superpole race, with Bulega eas - ing away to take another win and continue his perfect season. Fully 18 wins out of 18 this year is astounding, but there have also been 15 consecutive second places for Lecuona. Sam Lowes, not for the first time this year, took three third places over a weekend, including a podium finish in race two. Alex Lowes went fourth again for a 4-5-4 weekend, which he said was the best he could real - istically do. Or anyone else not powered by Bologna, it seemed. Alex's teammate Bassani was fifth and a good value for it, as he had one of his better and highly consistent weekends. Nicolo Bulega left no stones unturned at the Argon WorldSBK, winning everything in sight.