Nicolo Bulega led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 3 (FP3) Saturday morning at Jerez, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R  on spec Pirelli tires, the Italian turned a lap time of 1:37.892 to lead the 25-rider field.

Sam Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:38.101 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.

2024 WorldSuperbike Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu was third at 1:38.220 on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR. 

Americans Garrett Gerloff was 15th with a time of 1:39.068 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR and wildcard Bobby Fong got 24th on his Attack Performance Yamaha YZF R1. 

More from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bulega tops FP3 ahead of Sam Lowes, Razgatlioglu third after Rabat clash. The #11 was the only rider in the 1’37s during FP3 as he claimed top spot, while Razgatlioglu was third after a tricky session.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the fastest rider in a dramatic Free Practice 3 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia. The #11 was the only rider to lap in the 1’37s as he beat Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), while ‘El Turco’ had an eventful session on the second day of track action for the Pirelli Spanish Round.

Bulega was quickest out of the blocks in FP3, but he soon found his time being challenged by Razgatlioglu, with ‘El Turco’ briefly going into P1 with a 1’38.220s. However, top spot was claimed by Bulega as the #11 set a 1’37.892s in the final quarter of the session to assert his authority in the final practice session of the year. ‘El Turco’ showed some frustration through the session when he caught traffic, while he also made contact with Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) at Turn 13. The Turkish star eventually finished the session in third, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) leapfrogging him with a 1’38.101s.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) started his penultimate day as a full-time rider with fourth place, lapping just 0.338s slower than Bulega’s pacesetting time. He was ahead of his former Kawasaki teammate, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), with the #22 around a tenth slower than the six-time Champion. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) put two Yamahas in the top six with a 1’38.634s.

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) continued his strong form with P7 in FP3 after posting a 1’38.648s, while Alessandro Delbianco – standing in for Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) – put in a 1’38.727s as he claimed eighth place. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) finished in ninth with Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounding out the top ten.

The top six from WorldSBK FP3, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’37.892s

2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.209

3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.328s

4. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.338s

5. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.495s

6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.742s

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