It is true that we are in the prelude to the start of the championship, that everything remains ahead, that Phillip Island is a particular circuit, that there are many changes of drivers and they are adapting, but the truth is that Nicolo Bulega has been sharpening the ax all season and the first blow was dealt in the last tests.
The Italian is showing himself to be infallible with the new Panigale V4 R. He was the fastest on the first day and he has also been the fastest on the second, dominating in each and every one of the four sessions held. Bulega has not left any crumbs to the rest, even allowing himself to ride continuously close to the best time and with a pace during all the tests that is frightening.
And not only does Bulega scare, but also the Ducati in general, which have occupied the first four positions. Of course, we must not forget that Phillip Island is a track on which Borgo Panigale’s bikes usually always perform well. What is surprising is that it is Sam Lowes who finished second, with Lorenzo Baldassarri third and Yari Montella fourth.
That is, three private team drivers ahead of the rest of the officials. Of course, neither Lowes nor Baldassarri nor Montella have been able to come even remotely close to Bulega, who has surpassed the British by 666 thousandths and the two Italians by 698 and 721 respectively.
Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes with the two Bimotas were next on the fastest lap list and, while Bassani was close to the times of the private Ducati, Sam was a little further away to be the last of the riders on the grid who finished the test less than a second behind the best time.
The one who took a step forward on the last day was Miguel Ángel Oliveira with the BMW, managing to climb to seventh position and learning little by little. According to the two drivers of the German brand, Oliveira and Petrucci, the base is good, but they have to adapt. In fact, Petrucci has been left out of the top10.
Lecuona, Bulega’s teammate, was the best Spaniard in the test
Also in the process of adapting and without time to do so is Iker Lecuona. The next time he goes out on the track, the Spaniard will do so during the free practice sessions of the Australian round and will have to take a notable step forward to get closer to Bulega, his teammate.
Vierge, ninth, has been the best rider of a Yamaha structure that is very far away in general terms. The top ten positions in the combined two days were completed by Garrett Gerloff with the ZX-10RR which, whether due to the new bike or the hands of the American, seems to be a more competitive pairing for now.
Álvaro Bautista continues to adapt to the Panigale V4 R. The man from Talavera, who blames having to carry ballast on his motorcycle, has seen how, by lightening the Italian motorcycle, this ballast has had to increase. The Spaniard is still, according to official data, the fastest on the straight, but the extra weight complicates things for him in the curve.
After these two intense days, we now have to wait until Friday for the opening round to get underway. It will be then when we can see if anyone had any tricks up their sleeve, Bulega included…
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