Bulega Tops Jerez Testing, Gerloff Impresses with Fourth Place Finish…

Bulega Tops Jerez Testing, Gerloff Impresses with Fourth Place Finish.

The World Superbike Championship (WSBK) pre-season testing at Jerez delivered an exciting preview of what fans can expect in the upcoming season. Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega emerged as the fastest rider over the two-day session, setting the benchmark pace and showcasing his potential to contend for top honors in 2025. Meanwhile, American rider Garrett Gerloff impressed by finishing fourth, signaling a strong start for his campaign.

Bulega Dominates with Speed and Consistency

Bulega, fresh off a stellar season in the World Supersport Championship, has made a seamless transition to the Superbike category. Riding the Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bulega clocked the fastest lap of the test, a blistering 1:38.521, on the second day of action. His performance not only underlined his raw speed but also demonstrated his ability to adapt quickly to the more powerful Superbike machinery.

“I’m really happy with how the test went,” said Bulega. “The team and I have been working hard to find the right setup, and the bike felt incredible. It’s a great start, but we know there’s still work to do before the season begins.”

The Ducati team also appeared satisfied with Bulega’s progress, with engineers praising his feedback and consistency throughout the test sessions. His performance is a promising sign for Ducati, as they aim to continue their dominance in the WSBK paddock.

Gerloff Impresses in Fourth

Garrett Gerloff, riding for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, finished an impressive fourth overall with a best time of 1:38.902. The American rider, now entering his second season with BMW, showed significant improvements in both pace and confidence.

Gerloff focused on fine-tuning the chassis and electronics of his BMW M 1000 RR, working closely with his crew to optimize the bike’s performance. His efforts paid off, as he consistently posted competitive lap times and ended the test as the fastest BMW rider.

“I’m really pleased with the progress we made over these two days,” Gerloff shared. “The bike feels more competitive than ever, and I’m starting to feel more comfortable pushing it to the limit. It’s a good foundation to build on as we head into the season.”

Other Notable Performances

Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea also featured prominently during the test, finishing second and third, respectively. Both riders, proven championship contenders, used the Jerez test to refine their setups and evaluate new components.

Razgatlıoğlu praised the improvements made to Yamaha’s R1, while Rea focused on long-run consistency, signaling his intent to fight for his seventh WSBK crown.

Looking Ahead

The Jerez test has set the stage for an exhilarating WSBK season, with multiple riders and manufacturers showing strong form. As the teams head to the next round of testing, the focus will shift to fine-tuning race setups and gathering crucial data for the opening round.

With Bulega and Gerloff among the standout performers, fans can expect intense battles and unpredictable race

s as the 2025 season unfolds.