Bulega wins the first WorldSBK race of the year

· Nicolò Bulega (Ducati) won the opening race of the FIM Superbike World Championship, starting from pole position and firmly maintaining the lead of the group from start to finish. Behind him were two other Ducati riders, Yari Montella, second, and Lorenzo Baldassarri, third. Bulega was the fastest rider in all sessions, proving an excellent connection with the bike and the tyres. Indeed, the Italian rider went immediately for the medium compound D0922 rear specification he had already tested last year. Same choice for the third-placed rider, while Montella opted for the new E0829 tyre.

· In qualifying leading up to the race, Bulega – like most of the riders – went for the E0125 development solution, which is only available for free practices and for Superpole sessions, and can only be used as a time attack tyre for three flying laps, since the compound is too soft for this track. The E0125, with the same compound as the standard soft, proved to have more grip than the two medium compound options, which were both very popular in this race.

· Starting from pole position, Jaume Masia (Ducati) took home the WorldSSP Race 1, ahead of Phillip Oettl, the other Ducati rider, and Australian child-of-art Oli Bayliss (Triumph). The rear tyre choice was basically mandatory, with the medium compound D0922 development specification in size 200/65, also used in WordSBK. While for the front, the riders could choose between the 120/70 size, the standard for this class, and the 125/70 used in WorldSBK. About 2/3 of them, including the winner and the runner-up, adopted the Superbike size, while the other ten, including Oettl, preferred the SC1 in standard size.

Convincing performance for both development rear tyres
 
“The first thing we have learned today is that the Phillip Island track’s conditions can vary a lot from year to year, and, secondly, that, although being a very demanding circuit on the tyres, races can be held regularly over the full distance, by setting up the bikes properly and performing the right tests before the weekend. Bulega won the race using the D0922 specification rear solution that the riders raced with last year, when the flag to flag was carried out. The D0922 was also very popular in the Supersport race. The new rear E0829 specification, which uses the same compound as the D0922 with a different casing to increase stability, was also highly appreciated in Race 1, and those who chose it did so precisely because they perceived greater stability and less movement. While the riders who opted for the D0922 preferred to rely on a tyre they were already familiar with, which would seem to offer similar or slightly higher grip than the E0829. What matters, beyond individual preferences, is that in the conditions and with the temperatures we have seen today, they were both valid choices for the race, always in combination with the front SC1, which is the ideal option for this track. In qualifying, the soft compound – impossible to use during the race, being too soft – offered that extra grip that helped riders adjust their lap times. In Supersport, the Superbike sizes were well received by the riders, and most of them opted for the 125/70 front, which was more stable than the 120/70, even though who went for it found it more agile”.