Nicolo Bulega admits advice from MotoGP’s Francesco Bagnaia helped him snap his winless streak at the WorldSBK round in Aragon.
Bulega had not won a race since the Most round in May, but came into the weekend as the favourite.
However, the Italian conceded Race 1 to Toprak Razgatlioglu, but admitted the “frustration” from Saturday aided him to take victory in both of Sunday’s races.
“Yesterday’s frustration motivated me a lot today,” Bulega told SPEEDWEEK.com.
“On Saturday, I was frustrated because I knew I was fast enough, but I was struggling with a few minor issues.
“We worked very hard in the evening and optimised the things I didn’t like on Saturday.”
“I understood that he just wanted to block me, he knew I was a little faster. He kept trying to disrupt me.
“When I realised that, I tried to hold my position at the front and take a tighter line in turn 15. I was poor in that corner, or maybe he was just particularly good.”
Bulega also revealed that he received advice from Ducati MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia on how to tackle Razgatlioglu’s attacks.
Both riders ran out victorious in their respective races on Sunday, and Bulega suggested the two-time MotoGP champion’s for Turn 14 aided him to both of his wins.
“He sent me a message and gave me some advice that I used in the race,” Bulega said.
“It worked, because Toprak didn’t overtake me as often in Turn 15.”
“Pecco [Bagnaia] said I needed to ease off the brakes a little in Turn 14 and take a wider line. We talked a bit, and I described my problems in that corner to him. He tried to help me.”
Nicolo Bulega: ‘Important to end my streak of second places’ after Aragon WorldSBK weekend
The two victories for Bulega have closed his gap to Razgatlioglu down to 39 points, with 124 more to play for.
Both wins have effectively denied the Turkish rider a chance of winning the title at the next round in Estoril, with Bulega needing a no-score to make it mathematically impossible for the championship to roll onto Jerez.
Bulega admitted it was “more important” to him that he ended his five-race streak of second places than preventing Razgatlioglu from extending his unbeaten run to 14.
“I’m not so happy about ending Toprak’s winning streak,” Bulega said.
“What’s more important to me is that I ended my streak of second places. That was very important.
“I already said in the parc fermé that I needed this victory. These two victories here on Sunday give me motivation for the two remaining race weekends.”
Bulega looked ahead to the final two rounds of the season, which will take place at two of the Italian’s favourite circuits on the calendar.
The Ducati rider admitted he preferred the Jerez circuit, which will host the season finale, to the next round at Estoril, but Bulega has fond memories to look back on in Portugal.
The Italian won last year’s Superpole race at the Portuguese track in the closest-ever finish to a WorldSBK race, which will bring him confidence as he looks to close down Razgatlioglu.
“I like Estoril, but Jerez is one of my favourite tracks alongside Phillip Island,” Bulega said.
“However, I was already very fast in Estoril in my debut season, I won the Superpole race.”
Discussion about this post