Rookie sensation Nicolo Bulega took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R on the newly repaved track, Bulega recorded a lap time of 1:27.916, which was not only good enough to top the 22-rider field and secure pole position it also eclipsed the All-Time Lap Record Bulega set, 1:28.716, during Free Practice Three (FP3) Saturday morning.
In his first professional racing event in four years, Andrea Iannone qualified second with a 1:28.154 on his Team Go Eleven Ducati. Alex Lowes did a 1:28.239 on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR to earn the third and final spot on the front row.
Row two starters include GYTR GRT Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter (1:28.403), ROKiT BMW’s Toprak Razgatlioglu (1:28.520), and Pata Yamaha by Prometeon’s Andrea Locatelli (1:28.540).
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 14th with a 1:29.045 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.