Nicolo Bulega Admits Mistake: Slips Down WorldSBK Order
Current WorldSBK championship leader Niccolò Bulega suffered a major setback in Race 1 at Assen, where a late decision to change tires caused him problems, dropping him down the qualifying order.
The Italian driver, who started the race in second place, saw his championship hold on for a bit, but is now just one point ahead of the formidable duo of Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
The challenge started with rain forecast before the race, which was also before FP3 and Superpole. Although he made the same tire choice as most of the grid, Bulega admitted that the decision to use slicks was made too late, leaving him riding the bike’s wet settings throughout the race.
In his own words, Bulega commented: “Unfortunately, we made a mistake. We decided too late to put on slick tires and I drove with wet settings in dry conditions.”
He also explained that it was difficult to manage the situation, especially in the first laps, when he was a little afraid of understanding the bike due to his lack of experience in these conditions.
Another driver who faced similar challenges was Sam Lowes, who also chose the wrong tires and saw his chances of a good result end after switching to intermediates on the first lap.
Lowes regretted the decision and admitted it was a mistake to land too soon, but highlighted the difficulty of the situation in difficult weather conditions. He finished by expressing his determination to learn from the experience and make better choices for the next race.
Despite the setbacks, both Bulega and Lowes are determined to overcome these challenges and come back stronger for the next races. With a deeper understanding of track conditions and tire strategies, they hope to correct their mistakes and compete at the highest level again.
This setback serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of sports and the importance of making quick, accurate decisions during races. The WorldSBK Championship is still open, every point is crucial and the riders know they need to make the most of every opportunity to maintain or improve their positions in the standings.
