WorldSSP: Nicolo Bulega controls the pace in Race one

Nicolo Bulega wins the opening World Supersport race of the weekend at Donington.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was on pole position for the 19-lap WorldSSP race. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) started the race in second place ahead of Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha).

Nicolo Bulega led the way after the opening lap of the race from Manzi, with Montella dropping down to third. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) found his way into third place at the end of lap one after an incredible move.

Eugene McManus (Completely Motorbikes Triumph) crashed out the race on the opening stage of the race. The Triumph would set on fire on impact to the ground, forcing the Irishman to retire.

Harry Truelove (Dynavolt Triumph) and VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha had their own crash on the exit of Goddards. This crash would result in Truelove needing a check-up in the medical centre.

Both Bulega and Manzi began to stretch a gap in first and second positions, showing their speed. The battle for third however was very close with Montella and Caricasulo battling on their Ducati V2s.

Rhys Irwin (Astro-JJR Suzuki) had a great start to his WorldSSP debut, battling for world championship points. He was ahead of full-time rider, Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda team) who sat in 17^th.

Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) was on a recovery ride after a crash in qualifying and was battling for 10^th. John McPhee also had a crash in qualifying, making the Scotsman start in 30^th. However, McPhee continued to struggle in the race and battled for 22^nd position.

The new surface at Donington Park proved to be working, with riders able to make spectacular moves. 

The battle for sixth was close, with three riders on three different manufacturers battling for the position. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Racing), Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki). 

The group of riders would eventually catch onto the back of Glenn Van Straalen (EAB Racing Team). This group would then turn into a four-bike battle, with Debise leading the way with three laps to go.

Bulega dominates to the line

Nicolo Bulega continued to lead the way by over one second at the line from Stefano Manzi in second. Yari Montella rounded out the podium, ending the race in front of Federico Caricasulo.

Tarran Mackenzie had a disappointing end to race one, after retiring to the pitlane with technical issues.

The battle for fifth would go to the last corner with Schroetter running himself and Debise wide. This dropped them down to eighth and tenth at the line and allowed Van Straalen to claim fifth. Huertas would end the race in sixth, finishing ahead of De Rosa on the Ducati V2.

Tom Booth-Amos ended the race in ninth position, managing to claim two positions on the final laps. John McPhee also managed to make his way into 20^th at the end of the race, with some work still needing to be done on the Kawasaki.

Rhys Irwin finished down in 16^th position and was one position away from scoring world championship points on his debut.

Image credit: Ducati Media