Bulega bullies Balaton with new consecutive wins record

Ducati star sets a new all-time WorldSBK benchmark with a 14th straight race win

After his only realistic Race One rival – his team-mate Lecuona – was penalised by a drop in three grid spots for Race One, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) started well and set a new lap record on lap two, posting a 1’38.783 as he pushed ahead of the chasing pack.

Inexorably, predictably Bulega made certain of a new outright record of 14 consecutive WorldSBK race wins, set between last year and this. Toprak Razgatlioglu got to 13 consecutive wins on two occasions, but in a season when he is an almost unopposed leader so far, Bulega became the first to 14.

Iker Lecuona (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati), who got into second place on lap seven, only after fighting through a strong phalanx of leading riders, was already well behind the fleeing Bulega when he had clean air in front of him.

Despite setting lap times faster than Bulega at times, Lecuona would end of 2.5 seconds back on his team-mate.

Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) turned what seemed like no chance of a podium on Friday into his fourth podium of his ‘rookie’ season, passing all the early non-factory Ducati forces to end up 12 seconds down on Bulega, but in third place.

He was 1.4 seconds up on early podium challenger, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team). Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) took fifth place, and was a second behind his team-mate, having passed Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) near the end.

Lowes’ sixth place was the top bimota ride of the day, putting him 5.7 seconds ahead of the top R1, ridden by Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha).

Twenty-one year old fearless early podium contender, Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing Ducati) held off Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati) for eighth place, after Lowes got two ride through penalties for jump starting.

In a final tenth place, Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) led home an incredibly close fight for tenth, with four riders right behind him.

After being penalised 3 grid spots for riding slowly on the racing line during qualifying, Remy Gardner struggled to make headway from 17th on the grid, eventually finishing in 16th position.

BALATON PARK WORLDSBK RACE 1