Nicolo Bulega: ‘I would have signed for second place behind Toprak two months ago’
Nicolo Bulega was left upbeat following Race 1 of the Catalunya WorldSBK round, despite being cau🍌ght and passed by Toprak Razgatlioglu for victory.
Nicolo Bulega led much of the race as he str🔴etched clear from the likes of Andrea Iannone and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Bulega i🐷nherited the lead a few laps in when fellow rookie Sam Lowes crashed out, which began a series of very fast lﷺaps from the Italian.
- 2024 World Superbike Catalunya - Race (1) Results - Topraꦕk Razgatlioglu wins
- 2024 World Superbike Catalunya - 🌳Superpole Results
But despite being in control for much of the race, Bulega eventually ran into tyre wear issues and began shedding time to Razgatlioglꦛu.
After being caught on the penultimate lap, Bulega lost the lead at turn five before finish𓆉ing just under a second down on the BMW rider.
“Honestly, I didn’t have a strategy,” said Bulega. “It was my firs🗹t long race because in Australia we di𝕴d a pit stop.
“In the♎ end, unfortunately my rear tyre was completely dead. It was difficult for me to manage and Toprak was very fast in the end.
“His tyre life was a bit better than mine. Maybe I pushe⛦d a little bit too much at the beginning to overtake them because I was very fast.
“Today, I think I learned somethi🎶ng. I will be more prepared next time.”
Bulega made a𓆏 good start to Race 1, something he struggled to do throughout the sꦕeason-opener.
However, Bulega꧂ was still pushed down order after being overtaken by Iannone an💮d Lowes at the first corner.
Admitting he could be more aggressive, Bulega said: “The start was good becꦛause I improved a lo🔯t from Australia.
“Then, in the first corner; I don’t reme⛎mber who it was - maybe Lowes - entered very aggressively and I lost some positions.
“I’m happy because I improved the start but ma꧋ybe I can be a bit more aggressive in the first few corners.”
Asked when he began suffering with his rear tyre, Bulega said he could do nothing to stop the gap to Razgatli🍰oglu from dropping with three𝕴 laps remaining.
Bulega added: “Three laps to go. My pit board guy gave me the seconds and I saw 🧜3, 2ꦅ, 1 but it was not enough to win the race.
“I’m happy because I’m a rookie and I’m only a🌳t my second round.
“If you asked me two months ago I would sign for a sec🌌ond place behind Toprak﷽ on the last lap.
“So it is a nice ▨firꩵst two races for me and it’s more experience.”
