The machines are based on the colours of the MotoGP top three of Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, plus WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista and WorldSSP title winner Nicolo Bulega.

Four of the replicas will be based on Panigale V4 models, plus a V2 version for the ‘Bulega’.

They will each be produced in a limited and numbered series, with the rider’s original signature on the tank (protected by a layer of transparent varnish) plus a certificate of authenticity, and come with special technical equipment and a dedicated wood shipping crate.

The replicas are offered in single-seater configuration only. Each is embellished with a billet aluminium steering plate with laser engraving of the model’s name and progressive number, plus a dedicated key and animation for the dashboard at key-on. The saddle is made of special material, with the rider’s logo displayed as on the race bike.

The replicas – which include the racing numbers of the riders: Bagnaia’s 63, Bautista’s 19, Martín’s 89, Bezzecchi’s 72 and Bulega’s 11 – were presented during the factory’s “Campioni in Festa” event on Friday evening.

The Panigale V4s dedicated to Bagnaia and Bautista will feature the special yellow livery with which the two champions raced in this year’s Misano MotoGP and SBK rounds, respectively.

Production of the Panigale V4 ‘Bagnaia’ is limited to 263 units while the ‘Bautista’ – enhanced by a brushed aluminium fuel tank, carbon fibre winglets and Marchesini forged aluminium wheels – is limited to 219 units.

The Panigale V4 ‘Martin’ has the colours of the Prima Pramac team and includes a carbon fibre front fender. Production is limited to 189 units.

The Panigale V4 ‘Bezzecchi’ is inspired by the yellow and black of the Mooney VR46 team. Production is limited to 72 units.

The Panigale V2 ‘Bulega’ is limited to 111 units.

The machines are based on the colours of the MotoGP top three of Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, plus WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista and WorldSSP title winner Nicolo Bulega.

Four of the replicas will be based on Panigale V4 models, plus a V2 version for the ‘Bulega’.

They will each be produced in a limited and numbered series, with the rider’s original signature on the tank (protected by a layer of transparent varnish) plus a certificate of authenticity, and come with special technical equipment and a dedicated wood shipping crate.

The replicas are offered in single-seater configuration only. Each is embellished with a billet aluminium steering plate with laser engraving of the model’s name and progressive number, plus a dedicated key and animation for the dashboard at key-on. The saddle is made of special material, with the rider’s logo displayed as on the race bike.

The replicas – which include the racing numbers of the riders: Bagnaia’s 63, Bautista’s 19, Martín’s 89, Bezzecchi’s 72 and Bulega’s 11 – were presented during the factory’s “Campioni in Festa” event on Friday evening.

The Panigale V4s dedicated to Bagnaia and Bautista will feature the special yellow livery with which the two champions raced in this year’s Misano MotoGP and SBK rounds, respectively.

Production of the Panigale V4 ‘Bagnaia’ is limited to 263 units while the ‘Bautista’ – enhanced by a brushed aluminium fuel tank, carbon fibre winglets and Marchesini forged aluminium wheels – is limited to 219 units.

The Panigale V4 ‘Martin’ has the colours of the Prima Pramac team and includes a carbon fibre front fender. Production is limited to 189 units.

The Panigale V4 ‘Bezzecchi’ is inspired by the yellow and black of the Mooney VR46 team. Production is limited to 72 units.

The Panigale V2 ‘Bulega’ is limited to 111 units.

05.03.2023 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Althea’s Federico Caricasulo celebrated his first WorldSSP victory in four years following Sunday’s race-long battle in Indonesia.

A trio of Italians completed the Mandalika podium after Ten Kate Yamaha’s Stefano Manzi and Aruba Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega enjoyed a late race charge. The number 62 losing out on the final lap to the Ravenna rider.

A slight delay to Sunday’s Supersport race gave way to 18 laps around the 4.3km Lombok layout as Bulega launched from pole. Caricasulo trailing his fellow Ducati man with Puccetti Kawasaki’s Can Öncü behind before he captured the Althea for second.

Orelac Ducati’s Raffaela de Rosa ran fourth as the action unfolded. Manzi up to fifth from tenth on the grid as GMT94’s Valentin Debise crashed out. The Italian through on de Rosa as lap two concluded.

Glenn van Straalen the next to fall on the EAB R6 as Öncü took charge out front with a new fastest lap. Niki Tuuli placing the Dynavolt Triumph in sixth from Marcel Schrotter on the MV Agusta while VFT Yamaha’s Nicholas Spinelli, Ten Kate’s Jorge Navarro and D34G’s Oli Bayliss completed the top ten.

Öncü’s lead extended to eight tenths of a second by lap five. Caricasulo challenging Bulega for second before the two Italians swapped positions next time around, Manzi joining the fight as he too dispatched the pole sitter for podium contention.

The Tuuli/de Rosa battle continued behind as the Finn claimed fifth through turn one. Schrotter entering the scrap with Navarro following suit as the four-way fight played out and the German bettered for sixth by lap eight.

John McPhee circulated 11th on the Vince64 Kawasaki at the halfway stage. The Scotsman dispatching Bayliss for position as the Australian began to fade, MV’s Bahattin Sofuoglu the next in line on the edge of the top ten.

Caricasulo lost out to the advancing Manzi with eight laps to go. The all-Italian battle continuing as the Althea man looked to regain ground, Bulega setting a personal best as he too attempted to return to the podium fight, albeit a second adrift from fourth.

Just half a second covered the top three with six laps to go. Manzi launching for the lead through the second sector as Öncü began to struggle. Caricasulo capitalising down the straight next time around with Bulega back in contention as the race wound down.

The top five fight saw Schrotter in charge with four to go. Petronas MIE Honda’s Tarran Mackenzie claiming the final championship point on offer after an inter-team battle with Adam Norrodin as Triumph’s Harry Truelove dropped behind the pair to 17th.

Bulega was back on the podium, for an all-Italian affair, with three to go. Caricasulo challenging for the lead before the Yamaha shut the door with the move successfully made in the closing stages.

Caricasulo claimed his first Supersport victory since 2019 from a frustrated Manzi with Bulega completing the podium. Öncü headed Schrotter, Tuuli, de Rosa and Navarro in the top eight while Spinelli and Sofuoglu led home McPhee and Bayliss. A late collision between the two Yamaha Thailand riders saw Apiwath Wongthananon floored at turn 16, while Norrodin, Mackenzie and Anupab Sarmoon collected the final points.

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03.03.2023 |
WorldSBK Staff |
WorldSBK

Having clinched a double victory in the opening round, Aruba Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega was back at the top of the WorldSSP times on Friday in Lombok.

The Italian’s 1’36.705 lap time headed the 21-strong pack by just 0.024s after a late charge from Kawasaki Puccetti’s Can Öncü saw him overhaul Dynavolt Triumph’s Niki Tuuli for second place in the combined free practice standings.

MV Agusta’s 2023 Supersport rookie Marcel Schrotter was fourth on Friday at the hot and steamy Mandalika circuit, with track temperatures peaking at 53℃ in the afternoon practice.

Ten Kate Yamaha’s Stefano Manzi was one of five fallers in FP2, the Italian dropping to an eventual fifth place after the turn 16 off in the final 15 minutes. Althea’s Federico Caricasulo settling for seventh after his own turn two off with Orelac VerdNatura’s Raffaele De Rosa splitting his countrymen in sixth.

WorldSSP rookie Jorge Navarro on the second Ten Kate R6 continued his learning process at a good pace, in eighth overall, with fellow Yamaha riders Glenn van Straalen (EAB) and Valentin Debise (GMT94) completing the top ten.

British riders John McPhee and Tarran Mackenzie completed the day 15th and 16th respectively – Mackenzie suffering at the hands of turn ten in the opening quarter of an hour – with Harry Truelove 21st.

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04.03.2023 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Aruba Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega continued his early season form by securing WorldSSP Superpole at Mandalika on Saturday morning.

A 1’35.520 held off Althea’s Federico Caricasulo by a mere 0.003s as the 20 minute session came to conclusion with Puccetti Kawasaki’s Can Öncü slotting into third in the closing stages.

Qualifying kicked off at a hot and humid Lombok Circuit with track temperatures already hitting 44℃ for the morning action as Öncü set the pace with a 1’35.961. Yamaha’s Nicholas Spinelli found an early limit on the VFT Yamaha with a trip through the gravel at the final corner before last season’s polesitter Niki Tuuli arrived to the lead, 0.046s ahead.

Friday man Bulega headed a trio of Italians from third place, the Panigale V2 two tenths off the outright target, with Ten Kate Yamaha’s Stefano Manzi and Caricasulo a second adrift to round out the top five.

The second runs fired up with Bulega launching for pole thanks to a dominating 1’35.520 effort. Caricasulo following his fellow Ducati rider to sit 0.003s adrift with Dynavolt Triumph’s Tuuli dropped to third, four tenths shy, until Öncü displaced him further next time around.

Raffaele de Rosa was the next to climb as the Italian found fifth on the Orelac Verdnatura Panigale, Marcel Schrotter, Glenn van Straalen and Jorge Navarro heading the recovered Spinelli with Manzi and Vince64’s John McPhee on the edge of the top ten.

Schrotter’s climb continued as the clock counted down. The MV Agusta rider finding fifth, half a second off the outright pace as the chequered flag prepared. Spinelli the sole rider registering an attack before the lap faded in the final sector to consolidate eighth.

Bulega maintained his advantage from fellow Bologna rider Caricasulo with Öncü, Tuuli and Schrotter completing the top five. McPhee qualified 11th on his second attempt in the Supersport class, Petronas MIE Honda’s Tarran Mackenzie and Triumph’s Harry Truelove lining up 16th and 19th respectively for this afternoon’s opening race.

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20.02.2023 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Aruba Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega was the man to beat in WorldSSP after the Italian locked out both sessions at Phillip Island on the opening day of testing.

Bulega’s 1’33.527 eventually held court after just under four hours on track – the Supersport field scheduled for two 1 hour 50 minute sessions on Monday – with Ten Kate Yamaha new recruit Stefano Manzi two tenths behind in second.

Local rider Oli Bayliss claimed third after a 1’34.103 best aboard the D34G Panigale V2, with Althea’s Federico Caricasulo recovering from an early clash with Triumph’s Harry Truelove at turn two, to sit fourth ahead of Puccetti’s Can Oncu and former teammate Yari Montella, now with Barni Sparks Ducati.

By the close of play, Truelove was back from the medical centre to circulate as the leading Brit, albeit in 20th position. His 1’38.864 best of the day heading series rookies Tarran Mackenzie, on the MIE Honda, and Vince64 Puccetti’s John McPhee from the back of the pack. Mackenzie was only able to set 13 laps in the opening session after being black flagged with a transponder issue before a further technical struck as the morning action concluded, while McPhee sat out FP1 completely, hitting the track for a mere eight revolutions in the afternoon.

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31.07.2022 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Evan Bros. Yamaha’s Lorenzo Baldassarri ended a nine-race win-drought with a double victory at Most in the red-flagged WorldSSP final race.

Having led for the majority of the shortened 15-lap race, Aruba Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega was denied the spoils in a late-race move by the R6 machine, with the Italian forced to settle fro second. Dynavolt Triumph’s Stefano Manzi claiming his second podium in the class in quick succession after Saturday’s debut success, in third.

The second Supersport race prepared with controversy surging the championship leader Dominique Aegerter. The Ten Kate rider initially ruled out due to concussion before later being suspended from the action due to sanctions over his behaviour following the race one crash – Aegerter admitting to ‘simulating a medical situation in order to force a race stoppage’.

Saturday victor Baldassarri lined up on pole for the second bout ahead of the Ducatis of Federico Caricasulo and Bulega. The Althea rider one of the five taken out at the start of the first contest and hoping for a better showing this time around.

As the lights released for the 19-lap action, Baldassarri maintained his advantage front an all-Italian trio behind him. Caricasulo leading Bulega and Puccetti’s Yari Montella as turn one saw a number of riders run wide.

Bulega was up on his countryman for second as lap two began, Andy Verdoia sitting fifth on the GMT94 Yamaha as Issac Viñales crashed the DG34 Ducati out at turn 10.

Can Öncü joined his teammate in the top six after a determined move on both Verdoia and MTM Kawasaki’s Adrian Huertas. Montella falling in the opposite direction as he dropped to seventh with Orelac’s Raffaele de Rosa, Manzi and CM Racing’s Max Kofler rounded out the top ten.

Bulega was honing in on Baldassarri as just two-tenths separated the pair with four laps complete. Caricasulo over half a second adrift of the battling pair before Öncü dispatched the Althea following a trip through the gravel.

The Aruba rider was in charge on lap five and pulling an immediate quarter of a second gap in the initial stages. Caricasulo forced to battle hard with Huertas for fifth as his gap tot eh leaders increased after the off track excursion.

A crash for Oli Bayliss grounded the Barni Ducati rider at turn 15 with 13 laps to go as GMT94 stand-in Valentin Debise advanced to ninth. Manzi making his own moves further up on his way to fifth and with a second podium firmly in his sights.

Montella was the next to fall, this time at turn 21, with a double crash following at the same corner involving Patrick Hobelsberger and Max Kofler. Kyle Smith caught out on the VFT Yamaha one corner earlier next time around.

Manzi captured Caricasulo at the halfway stage as Bahattin Sofuoglu rose to seventh on the MV Agusta. Bulega maintaining his lead by the smallest of margins as Baldassarri remained in check out front.

The Triumph was down to sixth after running wide as Caricasulo and Huertas capitalised on the mistake. The Italian quickly regrouping on the Kawasaki before advancing back on the Ducati to retake fourth once again. Sofuoglu following suit to dispatch Caricasulo for fifth next time around.

Manzi set the fastest lap of the race as the final five fired up, Öncü and the podium less than a quarter of a second away from the Italian after securing his debut one day earlier. The move was secured in the final sector with the Triumph storming down the straight as the next lap kicked in. Steven Odendaal crashing out and De Rosa retiring on the side of the track as the red flag came out for the stricken riders.

Baldassarri, having just got through on Bulega for the lead – and securing the position at the last completed timing point – was awarded the victory with the Evan Bros Yamaha rider taking two from two in the Czech Republic and reducing his defict in the standings to just 14 points.

A frustrated Bulega settled for second from Manzi with Turkish training partners Öncü and Sofuoglu rounding out the top five. Caricasulo headed Huertas, Debise, Hannes Soomer, and Niki Tuuli with Peter Sebestyen, Verdoia, Leonardo Taccini, Marcel Brenner and Glenn van Straalen completing the points finishers.

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