Nico Bulega topped the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship times for a second session in a row in Free Practice 2 at Donington Park this afternoon (Saturday). Bulega’s best time of 1m25.460s was a marked improvement on the morning session, coming in at just over four tenths quicker than his previous benchmark.
The Aruba.It Racing Ducati ace seemed on course to lead home a one-two in the session with teammate Iker Lecuona running second until the latter stages. However it was Yari Montella, on the final timed lap of the session on a Barni Spark Racing prepared Ducati, who snuck into second, just over two tenths shy of Bulega.
Lecuona was still third, however, one place ahead of Alex Lowes who was the fastest non-Ducati competitor just as in the morning. Fifth was Tarran Mackenzie, despite exiting the session early following a fall which caused a red flag.
Behind that, Alvaro Bautista and Lorenzo Baldassarri were further competitors to show strongly on the Ducati Panigale, ending the 45-minute session sixth and seventh. Garrett Gerloff was eighth on the grid’s only Kawasaki WorldSBK machine.
Former British champion Tommy Bridewell, on the Superbike Advocates Ducati, and wildcard multiple World title winner Jonathan Rea, on a Honda HRC machine, completed the top 10.
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Free Practice 2, Donington Park
- Nicolo Bulega, Aruba.It Racing – Ducati, 1m25.460s
- Yari Montella, Barni Spark Racing Team, +0.207s
- Iker Lecuona, Aruba.It Racing – Ducati, +0.250s
- Alex Lowes, bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, +0.270s
- Tarran Mackenzie, MGM Optical Express Racing, +0.528s
- Alvaro Bautista, Barni Spark Racing Team, +0.661s
- Lorenzo Baldassarri, Team Goeleven, +0.665s
- Garrett Gerloff, Kawasaki WorldSBK Team, +0.689s
- Tommy Bridewell, Superbike Advocates, +0.720s
- Jonathan Rea, Honda HRC, +0.781s