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Nicolò Bulega is the biggest protagonist of the Phillip Island tests. In fact, the Aruba rider ended the second day in the lead, looking down on everyone from the top of the standings. So it can be said that the Italian rider's confidence and awareness are at their highest ahead of the upcoming weekend.
The odds are on his side, but he prefers to keep his feet firmly on the ground, without thinking too far ahead
"It wasn't a bad day, although I would rather be up front in the race than in the test," he began, "Phillip Island has always been my favorite track, plus Ducati is doing a great job and I'm doing very well, especially in the long corners. So the balance is positive and I am ready for the weekend. In fact, I can push in every exit as I want and all this gives me confidence for the weekend."
How is it that you can make a difference at this track?
"Here at Phillip Island I can be very natural in my riding, plus the Ducati is always strong. This has been my favorite since the Moto3 days, when Quartararo took me out while I was fighting for the podium after second place in qualifying behind Binder. Let's say there are a number of combinations that leave me confident heading into the weekend."
There will be the flag-to-flag to contend with....
"The thing I've realized after these two days is that the more I lap the faster I go, in fact I don't understand the choice of flag-to-flag. There are tracks where the tyres get destroyed, in fact the rider and the team have to know how to manage them to make a difference, while here it's not like that. On lap 20 I do a 1'29 low, so as a result I don't understand the flag-to-flag, as the tyres are going great."
At Buriram Luca Marini told us that this year you will slaughter Toprak...
"Thanks Luca! I appreciate it, as it is a great consideration on his part, but I am just happy to stay ahead of him without slaughtering him. It would be a bit of a gamble."
Are you worried about the tyre change? Maybe that is the biggest obstacle?
"For me it's a meaningless decision to have the flag-to-flag. Compared to other tracks here the tyres have better wear and hold up until the last lap. In fact, there are tracks where we have more difficulty with the tyres. If they do the flag-to-flag here, they should do it at all other tracks."
Among your opponents, namely Toprak, Petrucci and Iannone, who would you prefer to fight it out for the race win with on the last lap?
"It's all the same to me. The important thing is to beat them."
