SBK, Bulega: “I was a bit worried by Portimao, but I did better than in Jerez”

After standing out in last week's tests at Jerez, Nicolò Bulega once again shone yesterday at Portimao, where he took the top spot in the timesheets on the first day of testing, ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu's BMW. A confirmation of the feeling that has already been established between the reigning Supersport champion and the Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing Ducati team, with which he will contest his first season in the Superbike World Championship.

“It was an excellent first day, also because this is a very tough track and I was a bit worried this morning, given that there are a lot of quite critical points that I had to get used to with this bike, which is faster and very different from the one I used last year in Supersport - said the rider from Montecchio Emilia - There are points where you arrive much quicker, so the track changes quite a bit. It was difficult for me to be able to be fast here, I struggled a bit in the first laps, but then I managed to adapt well and I'm very happy because I think this is one of the most difficult circuits of the season and in the end we did a good job during the day, I have a good pace and I'm happy about it."

Despite being the only rider to dip below the 1m40s barrier, thus taking himself to just three tenths away from the Algarve track record, Bulega wasn’t focussing on finding the time but on the race pace.

“We didn't have anything new to try today, it was just a matter of adapting to the bike better on a difficult track like this. We are doing an excellent job and I want to continue in this way and improve every day - commented Nicolò - I think I went even better here than at Jerez, because in Andalusia I did my fastest lap with the SCQ, as many others had done, while today I tried to concentrate above all on the race tyre and my pace was better. We improved a bit and that's an important aspect."

Strengthened by the good sensations of the first day, the 24-year-old already has in mind what to focus on today, when he returns to the track for the final day of testing in Portimao.

“Braking is very important on this track, so we will have to improve a bit in this area even if we have progressed a lot during the day, so  now we know the path to follow and we will be able to take another step forward” declared the Ducati rider, who looking at the start of the season aims to "be fast and be as far ahead as I can".