It was a record-breaking Tissot Superpole session for the FIM Supersport World Championship as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) lapped in the 1’36s bracket to smash the all-time lap record at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. Bulega is the first WorldSSP rider to lap Misano in under 1’37s as he claimed pole position by six tenths of a second for the fourth pole position of his career.
LAP RECORD OBLITERATED: a 1’36s for Bulega…
Bulega was straight on lap record pace from the start of the 20-minute session as he claimed pole position at Misano as he set a 1’36.495s to obliterate the lap record as he claimed the fourth pole of the season. He was six tenths clear of Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) who had a technical issue at Turn 8 in the closing stages of the session and his best time was a 1’37.112, underneath the previous lap record, ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) in third who also crashed. Montella’s crash came at Turn 15 to bring his session to an end but he will still start from the front row. Caricasulo claimed his 36th front row start despite the tech issue, while it is Montella’s third.
FIGHTING FOR THE PODIUM: a fierce scrap incoming
Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will start from fourth on the grid after posting a 1’37.691s to lap 1.196s slower than Bulega and 0.029s faster than Dutch rider Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) in fifth place. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) ensured two MV Agustas were in the top six as he set a late lap to claim sixth place on the back of his first WorldSSP win last time out in Barcelona.
STRONG RESULTS IN A CLOSE FIELD: fighting for the top ten
French rider Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), continuing to replace the injured Can Oncu who’s in attendance at Misano, claimed seventh place after setting a 1’37.845s, 0.020s ahead of wildcard Simone Corsi (Altogo Racing Team) in eighth after a strong showing for the wildcard in his second WorldSSP appearance of 2023. Rookie Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) claimed ninth place ahead of Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) in 10th and teammate Stefano Manzi in 11th; the trio separated by just 0.012s.
HOUSEKEEPING: to note from WorldSSP Superpole
It was a dramatic 20-minute session in WorldSSP with several riders crashing. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) took a tumble at Turn 6 on his first flying lap and he took 21st on the grid with just two timed laps to his name. His teammate, Federico Fuligni, had a major moment at the same corner a few minutes later but he was able to continue; he’ll start from 18th.
The top six following WorldSSP Superpole, full results here:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’36.495
2. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) +0.617s
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.862s
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.196s
5. Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) +1.225s
6. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.309s
Watch WorldSSP Race 1 at 15:15 Local Time (GMT+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com