Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was peerless in Race 2 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Motul French Round, leading from start to finish to complete a perfect day. Reacting to his Saturday afternoon crash at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in style, Bulega followed up on a fantastic Tissot Superpole Race win with a 2.3s victory over second placed Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who took his third podium of the weekend.

PETRUCCI & GERLOFF: podium results for the Italian and the American

Petrucci chased hard throughout the race and was Bulega’s nearest challenger, though in truth the factory Ducati rider was never under significant threat from his compatriot, having built a 2.5s lead by the end of lap 4, a gap that remained stable until the chequered flag. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) made it up into third in front of Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) on lap 10 and the American did not look back from there as he charged on for his first BMW podium.

REMARKABLE FIGHTBACK: Lowes from last to fourth

Starting in second on the grid Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) ran wide at Turn 8 on lap 1 – dropping to the back of the race. Lowes then fought back brilliantly, making his way through the pack, eventually getting on front of his former Yamaha teammate Van der Mark for fourth with four laps to go. Race 1 winner Van der Mark notched another solid top five result, 7.5s down on Bulega, whilst just over four seconds behind the Dutchman Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) came home sixth.

TOP TEN BATTLES: Vierge the top Honda rider

Just over half a second behind Gardner was Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) in seventh place, the Honda rider benefitting from a penalty for Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW), who was finally awarded eighth, the Briton being demoted one position for exceeding track limits on final lap. The top 10 was rounded out by Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), after Lecuona was given a three second penalty in lieu of a Long Lap Penalty for shortcutting a corner during the final laps.

EVENTFUL RACE FOR BASSANI: Italian was briefly up to third

Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had charged through from 10^th on the grid to take over from Van der Mark for third on lap 5, the Italian dropping back to fifth before he was demoted to 11^th after a Long Lap Penalty for an earlier shortcut of Turn 6. There was also a DNF for Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) due to a technical issue.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)

2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +2.841

3. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +4.300s

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +6.576s

5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +7.521s

6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +11.620s

Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati – 1’36.717s

Championship standings:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 365 points

2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 310

3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 243

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 235

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 190

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 170

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