Overview
- On Friday Nicolo Bulega set the day’s fastest lap at 1:32.733 and Ducati riders occupied the entire top six in FP1.
- Bulega said a different setup in FP1 left the bike feeling wrong, so he reverted to his standard setup in FP2 and reported improved handling and pace.
- Team-mate Iker Lecuona was just 0.059 seconds behind Bulega with Sam Lowes third, and the factory Ducatis were the only riders in the 1:32s in the opening session.
- Miguel Oliveira made his return from injury and placed 17th, while Michael van der Mark is substituting for Danilo Petrucci at BMW this weekend.
- The setup recovery puts Bulega in position to extend his run of poles and wins in Superpole and Race 1, with a seventh straight opening pole and a 23-race season win streak possible if he converts pace into results.