WorldSBK Phillip Island: Bulega doubles up in WorldSSP as geese stop play

Aruba.it Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega has opened up his 2023 WorldSSP Championship campaign with a double victory at Phillip Island after winning a truncated second race In Australia.

The Italian had been embroiled in a fierce three-way tussle for honours with Ten Kate Yamaha’s Stefano Manzi and Puccetti Kawasaki’s Can Oncu when an impromptu track invasion from two (brave) geese with five laps remaining forced race direction to throw the red flags.

Their arrival came shortly after Bulega had just re-taken the lead back from Manzi as they entered the closing stages. For now, it remains unclear as to whether the race-ending incident was simply a case of fortuitous timing for the ex-Moto2 rider or whether the feathered spectators-turned-hooligans were employing some militant ‘Ducatisti’ tactics to ensure a Bulega victory.

Either way, the result caps a breakthrough weekend for Bulega, who followed up his hard-fought maiden victory in Saturday’s first race with an altogether calmer run to glory in race two.

Indeed, while a stop-start race one was held in wet conditions, the second encounter was a dry affair with Bulega - promoted to the front row in place of the injured Yari Montella - making the most of his elevated position to get the hole-shot into Turn 1 from Oncu and Manzi.

After Bulega and Oncu surged clear of the field initially, the pair were swiftly reeled back in by pole man Manzi, the Ten Kate rider shucking off a ponderous opening lap to join the leaders and put two seconds between himself and a chasing pack headed by Althea’s Federico Caricasulo, race one podium winner Nicholas Spinelli and Marcel Schrotter on the MV Agusta.

The front trio remained static in their positions for several laps, Bulega not putting a foot