Here’s a bold statement: Nicolo Bulega’s Superpole lap at Jerez was so blisteringly fast, Toprak Razgatlioglu compared it to a MotoGP time. And this is the part most people miss—Bulega didn’t just break the 1:37 barrier; he obliterated it, becoming the first rider in World Superbike history to dip into the 1:36s. But here’s where it gets controversial: was this a one-off miracle, or is Bulega truly on the verge of redefining what’s possible in WorldSBK? Let’s dive in.
As the title-deciding WorldSBK races at Jerez loomed, Toprak Razgatlioglu couldn’t help but tip his helmet to Nicolo Bulega’s jaw-dropping Superpole performance. Bulega wasn’t just fast—he was in a league of his own, finishing as the only rider in the 1:36s range. To put this in perspective, his lap was a staggering half-second quicker than Razgatlioglu’s and just one second shy of Fabio Quartararo’s pole time in the Spanish MotoGP earlier this year. Is WorldSBK closing the gap to MotoGP, or was this an anomaly? It’s a question worth debating.
In his post-Superpole interview, Razgatlioglu admitted, ‘I knew Bulega would be quick, but 1:36.6? That blew my mind. Hats off to him and Ducati—it was like watching a MotoGP lap.’ He didn’t stop there, adding, ‘We’re all pushing hard, but that kind of speed? It’s next-level.’ Razgatlioglu’s focus now shifts to the race, where he plans to chase down Bulega. ‘I’ll strategize and give it my all,’ he said, ‘but let’s be real—Bulega’s set the bar sky-high.’
Bulega, meanwhile, was all smiles after his record-breaking lap. ‘I felt there was more in the tank after my first run,’ he explained to the WorldSBK broadcast. ‘So, I went back to the garage, regrouped, and came out swinging. The bike was on point, and the team nailed it. Now, it’s all about Race 1—full throttle, no regrets.’
But here’s the real question: Can Bulega sustain this pace in race conditions, or was Superpole a perfect storm of talent and timing? And if he can, what does this mean for the future of WorldSBK? Share your thoughts in the comments—is Bulega the future, or just a flash in the pan? One thing’s for sure: this weekend at Jerez just got a whole lot more interesting.
