Nicolo Bulega was the star of the s♓how as😼 he again showed no signs of slowing down on day-one of the Catalunya WorldSBK round.

Fastest in the test last week, Bulega 𒈔led the afternoon session ahead of team-mate Alvaro Bautista.  

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“It was a good 💝first day because my feeling with the bike was good,” said Bulega. “It was good to make the test her🀅e because it was my first time here with the big bike.

“It was nice to already have some information for✃ the weekend. I’m happy with my race pace because it was really g♕ood. I think I’m ready for the race.”

Tyre wear is the main concern for every rider and team this we𝓰ekend, but Bulega s𒊎eemed to have a handle on how much to push during his FP2 simulation.

Still, the rookie expects to struggle when it comes to both feature races, although his rivals found it even more difficult during FP2’s scorching conditi🍃ons.

“For sure, 𝄹the main problem for the whole race 🅠will be the tyres,” said Bulega. “We will need to be very smart to understand which one to use.

“I think for acceleration but also in the middle of the corner; in these long corners here in Bar🦂celona ꧃we’ll struggle a lot.”

The fastest rider over one lap throughout pre-season and both race weekends thus far, Bulega is a firm favourite for pole position on Saturda🎐y.

However, the pace shown by Bulega in race trim has also been ver♛y promising for the young Ita💯lian.

Asked꧟ if he’s the new benchmark for other Ducati riders, Bulega said: “I was fast not only over one lap buಌt also with my race pace. 

“It was a good ꦯFP2. I think we have to continue in this way but try to improve something. Our rivals will try something to catch me.”