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/1545207
the factory team so far ahead of even the best Ducati privateers. Even the half-exotic bimota Italian "special" is overmatched so far, with Lowes fourth overall at 132 points. The next round is at Misano, Bulega and Ducati's home turf, of course, where hot tempera - tures will probably be in evi- dence again. Can Bulega possibly, defi- nitely, or inevitably win another three under the factory bosses' noses? WorldSSP A last-lap race-one fight between championship leader Albert Arenas (AS Racing Yamaha) and Alessandro Zaccone (Ecosanta - gata Althea Racing Team) went the way of the Ducati rider. This is the outfit owned by the late WorldSBK Championship- winning force, Genesio Bevilac - qua. His daughters were there to see the victory, as was the team's WorldSBK Champion from 2011, Carlos Checa, so it was a special moment for all. Something like immediate and exuberant joy intermingled with a certain reflection and poignan - cy at Genesio's recent passing in January of this year. Triumph rider Tom-Booth Amos got his season back on track with a third place in race one. Front-row starter Roberto Garcia (GMT94-Yamaha) was fourth. In the second race, Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdna - tura) was the eventual winner, regaining second place overall in the championship. He beat Are - nas into second, Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing Ducati) into third, and Garcia into fourth. WorldSSP never disappoints in entertainment or unpredict - ability metrics. In the championship, Arenas leads Masia by 40 points, 206 to 166, with Valentin Debise (ZX - MOTO Factory Evan Bros Rac- ing) three points behind Masia. WorldSPB David Salvador (ProDina Kawa- saki) held Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) to second place in the opening race (only five laps after a red-flag stoppage), with Fenton Seabright (PHR Perfor - mance Triumph) third. A literally devastating second race for some hopefuls, over the full 11 laps, saw two potential winners, Bartolini and Torres, relegated to off-podium finishes for nerfing rivals, leaving Arti - gas as a first-time race winner. Carter Thompson was second for Yamaha, and Harrison Des - soy, from the PHR Performance Triumph team, placed third. Seven different riders have won so far, in only eight indi- vidual races. Salvador leads it all with 126 points, Torres is second with 113, and Artigas has 109. Gordon Ritchie WorldSBK Race 1 (Top 5) 1. Nicolo Bulega (Duc) 32:46.379 2. Iker Lecuona (Duc) 32:47.653 3. Sam Lowes (Duc) 32:54.457 4. Alex Lowes (bim) 33:02.556 5. Thomas Bridewell (Duc) 33:04.998 Superpole Race (Top 5) 1. Nicolo Bulega (Duc) 18:08.215 2. Iker Lecuona (Duc) 18:08.809 3. Sam Lowes (Duc) 18:09.455 4. Alberto Surra (Duc) 18:10.855 5. Alex Lowes (bim) 18:11.434 WorldSBK Race 2 (Top 5) 1. Nicolo Bulega (Duc) 32:50.074 2. Iker Lecuona (Duc) 32:50.860 3. Sam Lowes (Duc) 32:56.580 4. Alex Lowes (bim) 33:02.487 5. Axel Bassani (bim) 33:04.425 David Salvador leads the WorldSPB Championship. There have been seven different winners in the eight races held so far. WIND IN THE P64