Nicolo Bulega became the first Ducati rider to claim a MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship pole position at Donington Park since 2014 this morning (Saturday). The Italian lapped the Grand Prix circuit in 1m24.410s to top the Tissot Superpole session from his Aruba.It Racing teammate Iker Lecuona by less than a tenth of a second.

The session was dominated towards Ducatis towards the sharp end, with Bulega and Lecuona followed in the pecking order by Yari Montella on the first of the Barni Spark Racing Team entries, just under two tenths away from the outright pace. Behind that, it was Sam Lowes who rounded out the top four as the leading Brit, following his practice-topping run earlier in the day.

Xavi Vierge, fifth overall for Pata Maxus Yamaha, was the fastest of the non-Ducati competitors for the first time this weekend. He was marginally ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri, another rider with a Ducati Panigale at his disposal.

Seventh was Alex Lowes who, on the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team bike, had been the quickest of those outside the Ducati ranks prior to the Superpole session. His teammate Axel Bassani completed a strong session for the team in eighth.

Tommy Bridewell on the Superbike Advocates Ducati was ninth, with multiple champion and wildcard Jonathan Rea completing the top 10 on his Honda.

MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Tissot Superpole, Donington Park

1. Nicolo Bulega, Aruba.It Racing – Ducati, 1m24.410s
2. Iker Lecuona, Aruba.It Racing – Ducati, +0.052s
3. Yari Montella, Barni Spark Racing Team, +0.198s
4. Sam Lowes, ELF Marc VDS Racing Team, +0.298s
5. Xavi Vierge, Pata Maxus Yamaha, +0.830s
6. Lorenzo Baldassarri, Team Goeleven, +0.904s
7. Alex Lowes, bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, +0.963s
8. Axel Bassani, bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, +0.985s
9. Tommy Bridewell, Superbike Advocates, +0.986s
10. Jonathan Rea, Honda HRC, +1.019s