Nicolo Bulega’s (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) meteoric rise to the summit of the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is a remarkable achievement. With a total of 14 hard-fought victories and 18 podium finishes over the course of the season, Bulega’s consistent excellence set him apart as a force to be reckoned with on the track. Throughout the campaign, Bulega’s Championship points tally reached an impressive 433, solidifying his commanding position at the top of the standings.
The 2023 WorldSSP season witnessed a captivating Championship duel between Nicolo Bulega and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). It all began with Bulega taking a 5-point lead after the Australian Round’s Race 1, but he quickly extended his advantage to a commanding 20 points with a brilliant double win in Race 2. However, the Championship’s momentum shifted briefly after Bulega’s unfortunate DNF in Race 2 of the Acerbis Catalunya Round and Manzi’s impressive victory in Race 2 of the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round. The gap between them narrowed, but Bulega swiftly regrouped, pushing harder than ever and extending his Championship lead. By the time they reached the Pirelli Portuguese Round, Bulega had stretched his advantage to a formidable 85 points, solidifying his position as the dominant force in the Championship and leaving Manzi with a mountain to climb to catch up. His victory in Race 1 secured him the WorldSSP title at Portimao, with three races remaining in the 2023 season.
Bulega’s WorldSSP title marks his inaugural World Championship victory since his triumph in the 2015 CEV Moto3 Championship. He becomes the second Italian Champion in WorldSSP, following in the footsteps of Andrea Locatelli, who clinched the title in 2020.
This triumph also signifies a historic milestone for Ducati, as it is their first-ever WorldSSP Championship victory. Ducati now joins the ranks of winning manufacturers in the series, becoming the fifth manufacturer to achieve this honor, alongside Honda (9 titles), Kawasaki (4 titles), Suzuki (1 title), and Yamaha (10 titles).
As he basks in the glory of his 2023 WorldSSP Championship victory, Nicolo Bulega looks forward to the next chapter in his racing journey. In 2024, he will transition to WorldSBK with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, where he aims to continue his legacy of success on the world stage.
Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“I feel incredible. After a lot of hard work, a lot of concentration, working with my team but also alone at home, in the end, I am and we are World Champions, and this is incredible. I came here to this paddock with this team in a mentally tough situation because I didn’t enjoy riding bikes anymore, and even my training wasn’t at its best. Eventually, I tried to change everything that I thought wasn’t helping me perform at my best to try to go faster and win. In the end, all the hard work paid off. It’s incredible to have a manufacturer like Ducati supporting you, even if it means some pressure. Maybe I needed that pressure. It’s very emotional to win for Ducati, their first title in Supersport. Thanks to them!”