Nicolo Bulega dominates a wet and attritional Race 2 in Australia

The rain that had held off in the Superpole race had arrived in full for the final race of the weekend at Phillip Island. Nicolo Bulega started from pole position looking to take his first treble of the season, Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes joined the Italian on the front row.

Bulega took the holeshot ahead if the two Bimota’s and the Barni Spark Ducati’s of Yari Montella and Alvaro Bautista. Mattia Rato was the first person to fall, the rookie high-sided at the Miller Hairpin.

At the end of the opening lap Bulega lead with Montella in second, Bassani in third and Sam Lowes was ahead of Alex Lowes.

Andrea Locatelli was having a torrid time in Australia but the wet weather was giving him a good feeling and he overtook Bautista for sixth at turn four.

Tarran Mackenzie was having a good ride in eighth place battling with Lorenzo Baldassarri and Garrett Gerloff and the Scot pulled a pass on Bautista at turn four.

Sam Lowes moved into third place passing Bassani into Stoner corner making it a Ducati one-two-three. Baldassarri was given a double long lap penalty for jumping the start.

Mackenzie and Bautista had overtaken Locatelli and were catching Alex Lowes, Bautista had a front end moment into turn six but saved it.

On lap six Sam Lowes crashed out of the race at turn three from the podium places, Bassani inherited third place.

Bautista made a daring move into turn one on Mackenzie and then passed Alex Lowes into MG. Mackenzie then made a move on Lowes into turn one to enter the top five.

Miguel Oliveira who started from the back of the grid was in tenth place behind his teammate Danilo Petrucci and Aruba.it Ducati’s Iker Lecuona.

Xavi Vierge went down at the Southern Loop from 15th place with ten laps to go. Oliveira after stalking his teammate for a while made the move on Petrux into MG.

Petrucci wanted to be the top BMW rider and retaliated against the Portuguese rider into the Miller Hairpin to go back into ninth.

Montella crashed out at Lukey Heights from second position, the Italian lost the rear mid corner and was out of the race.

Bassani inherited second place and Bautista was in third place, Mackenzie was fourth holding off Alex Lowes.

Alex Lowes lost the rear at turn one with four laps to go just as he was eyeing up a move on Mackenzie, Locatelli was now in the top five.

On the penultimate lap Petrucci finally overtook Lecuona after being behind the Spaniard all race long to move into sixth.

Nicolo Bulega swam across the line to complete the treble, Bassani took second place with Bautista rounding out the podium places.

Tarran Mackenzie finished fourth for his career best finish in World Superbikes, Locatelli held onto the fifth ahead of Petrucci as Oliveira overtook Lecuona on the final lap for seventh, Baldassarri was ninth and Garrett Gerloff rounded out the top ten.

Nicolo Bulega leads the championship on a maximum 62 points ahead of Bassani on 42 points and Montella on 26 points.

Featured Image: WorldSBK.com