Bulega was fast from the beginning as he showed the type of pace that could become a worry for the two-time WorඣldSBK champion.

Bulega then got stronger as the two-day test went on as he claimed a P2 finish behind GRT Ya🐟maha rider Remy Gardner.

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Focusing on the new weight limiꦓt rule, Bautista didn’t attempt to set the world alight after winning all three races at the season-finale🍨.

However, the Spaniard also didn’t expect to see Bulega be the top Ducat🐼i, telling WorldSBK.com: “I knew that Nicolo was very fast and he rode the bike some times before in other tests, so he knew the bike already. He has more or less a base setup. Sincerely, I didn’t expect♉ it but I also expect it; he is fast and he got the feeling very quick with the bike. 

“At the moment, I am focused on myself and to try and improve🃏 the bike with the weight. 

“Fortunately, this is the first test so we haveಞ many days before the first race to find a good so♋lution for our problems.”

Bautista’s comments came following day-on꧟e where he praised the Italian for his performances en route to winning the Supersport title.

Bautista said: “He’s a nice guy and t𒅌alented rider, winning the title last year so for sure he’s fast. 

“He knows more or less the bike and has a base set-up. He will be one of t🌌he riders who fights for podiums and victories during the season and it is nice to have a young rider like him because the first rider you want to beat is your teammate. 

“In the box, it’s like an extra motivation for me and the team on m🎃y side.”

Bulega wants to ‘beat everybody’

While finishing ahead of your team-mate is the main goal for any riꦯder, especially when that team-mate is the reigning world champion, Bulega is not looking solely at Bautista.

Keen to make his mark in 2024, Bulega ꩵadded: “Honestly, I don’t know what kind of work Alvaro did. I don’t want to🔯 beat Alvaro, I would like to beat everybody! 

“Alvaro is now th♌e reference point for Ducati because he’s the best. He’s fast and it’ll be very difficult to beat him. 

“We still have a lot of work to do and I’m still trying to learn the bike to understand better 🎃the DNA of this bike because it’s more difficult than WorldSSP. It’s all more. More brakes, more engine, more electronics.”