Dutch WorldSBK 2025 FP2: Nicolo Bulega leads Axel Bassani to conclude Friday’s practice

Nicolo Bulega laid down a commanding performance during Dutch WorldSBK 2025 FP2 to conclude Friday’s practice on top at the iconic TT Circuit Assen.

The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider set the benchmark with a blistering 1’33.592, outpacing Axel Bassani (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) by 0.252 seconds and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) by 0.319 seconds in a session marred by frequent yellow flags and canceled lap times.

Nicolo Bulega’s relentless pace during Dutch WorldSBK 2025 FP2 underscored his growing confidence with the factory Ducati squad as he consistently found rhythm on the 4.542-meter Assen circuit.

Bulega’s fastest lap, achieved mid-session, remained unchallenged despite multiple riders attempting late improvements. The #11’s dominance was particularly evident in sector analysis where he maximized the Ducati’s acceleration out of the final chicane to set a top speed of 291.1 km/h—nearly 6 km/h faster than Bassani’s Bimota KB998 Rimini.

Axel Bassani emerged as the closest challenger, leveraging the nimble handling of the Bimota to navigate Assen’s technical sections.

Bassani’s 1’33.844 lap highlighted his adaptability to the Kawasaki-powered machine, though questions remain about its straight-line competitiveness against the Ducati and BMW rivals. His consistency across both practice sessions positions him as a potential threat for Saturday’s Superpole qualifying.

Toprak Razgatlioglu, now in his second season with BMW, demonstrated incremental progress aboard the M1000RR. The Turkish star’s third-place time of 1’33.911 came despite ongoing struggles to optimize the BMW’s new aerodynamic package through high-speed corners.

Razgatlioglu’s engineers focused on rear tire preservation during long runs, a critical factor given Assen’s demanding layout that stresses both front and rear compounds.

Session Drama and Canceled Laps

The second practice for Dutch WorldSBK 2025 witnessed significant disruptions with no fewer than 14 lap times deleted for yellow flag infringements between Turns 1 and 2.

Among those affected were Alvaro Bautista (#19 Ducati), Andrea Iannone (#29 Ducati), and reigning WorldSSP champion Tarran Mackenzie (#95 Honda), all losing their fastest attempts due to localized cautions.

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Meanwhile Ryan Vickers (#17 Kawasaki) triggered the first major incident at Turn 1 just seven minutes into the session necessitating a brief red flag for bike recovery. The British rider rejoined after repairs but struggled to regain rhythm, finishing outside the top ten.

Michael van der Mark (#60 BMW) also faced challenges, having a lap time annulled for exceeding track limits at the final corner before later grazing the gravel trap at Turn 17.

Midfield Battles and Manufacturer Performances

Behind the leading trio, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha) showed promise with consistent mid-1’34 laps, though his progress was hampered by traffic management issues.

The Yamaha R1 appeared to lack outright power compared to its rivals particularly on the back straight leading into the Ruskenhoek chicane.

Kawasaki’s factory riders endured mixed fortunes at the Dutch WorldSBK 2025 FP2 with Alex Lowes (#22) unable to replicate his Australian Round pace on the ZX-10RR. The British rider’s session was compromised by a canceled 1’34.776 lap leaving him down the order.

Honda’s struggles continued as Iker Lecuona (#7) and Xavi Vierge (#97) grappled with chassis balance issues, their CBR1000RR-R machines visibly unsettled under hard braking into the Geert Timmer chicane.

Tyre Strategy and Long-Run Analysis

Pirelli’s soft-compound SC0 rear tyre emerged as the preferred option for time attacks, though several riders including Bassani completed race simulations on the more durable SC1.

Bulega’s long-run pace appeared formidable, with the Italian stringing together multiple mid-1’34 laps that suggest he’ll be a factor in Sunday’s 21-lap race.

BMW’s focus on rear grip preservation appeared to pay dividends for Razgatlioglu, who managed consistent 1’34.2s during his final stint. However, the Turkish rider’s top speed deficit of nearly 5 km/h to the Ducatis remains a concern for the team’s engineers.

Rookie Watch and Independent Teams

Yari Montella (#5 Ducati) continued his adaptation to WorldSBK machinery, the Italian rookie improving his morning time by 0.4 seconds despite limited dry track running. His Barni Spark Racing Team counterpart Danilo Petrucci (#9) focused on electronics calibration sacrificing outright pace for race setup.

Independent teams faced an uphill battle with Garrett Gerloff (#31 Kawasaki) and Remy Gardner (#87 Yamaha) languishing outside the top 15. The American rider particularly struggled with front-end feel at maximum lean angle, while Gardner’s Yamaha suffered from wheelie issues on corner exits.

With stable weather forecasts for Saturday’s qualifying sessions, teams anticipate closer competition as riders unlock additional performance from their machines.

The battle for the 2025 Dutch WorldSBK Superpole appears set to revolve around Bulega, Bassani and Razgatlioglu though dark horses like Bassani’s teammate Loris Baz (#76) could spring surprises with improved tyre conservation strategies.

Dutch WorldSBK 2025 FP2 Results – TT Circuit Assen