Bulega like Tardozzi and Biaggi: the winners on their Superbike debut | FormulaPassion.it

Debut victory and Italian podium

There Race 1 at Phillip Island went down in history for the victory of Nicolò Bulega, capable of triumphing in Superbike on his debut in the category, moreover after having also achieved his first pole position. They thought about making the first Italian morning even bluer Andrea Locatelli and Andrea Iannone (also on his first podium as a rookie), who presented an all-Italian podium that had been missing in Superbike since 1993. On that occasion, again in Race 1 and on the circuit Misanowon Giancarlo Falappawith the Ducati rider followed by Mauro Lucchiari and Fabrizio Pirovano. Two Ducatis and a Yamaha, just as happened 31 years later at Phillip Island with other protagonists.

Tardozzi: the first winner in Superbike history

The nationality of the one who won is also intriguing first race in Superbike history, Italian again. TO Donington, in 1988in fact he climbed to the top step of the podium in Race 1 Davide Tardozzi. A unique case, different from all the others who managed to win their first career round in their first ever participation. The year following Tardozzi's success the Australian succeeded Peter Goddardmoreover in his home round on the track of Oran Park. The edition of 1989Furthermore, it was the last to take place on that track before the arrival of the current Phillip Island.

1996: the year of the rookies

1996 was a season in which the victories of a rookie occurred in two cases. The first success occurred during the first race of the year Misanowith the American John Kocinski who, in addition to obtaining pole and the fastest lap, completed his dream weekend by triumphing in both Race 1 and Race 2. What happened in Japan was different, Juicea circuit that has no longer hosted the Superbike since 2003. Thanks to the presence of numerous wild cards of Japanese nationality, it was one of these, Yuichi Takedafinishing ahead of everyone with Honda.

The former MotoGPs

Finally, more recent are the victories of two riders who decided to spend the second half of their respective careers in Superbike after their chapter in the MotoGP. In the 2007was another Italian like Max Biaggi to win his first ever Round in Qatar, doing it riding the Suzuki. The last episode of these special statistics finally dates back to 2019 with the reigning world champion Alvaro Bautistawho inaugurated his Superbike adventure in the best possible way by triumphing in Phillip Island.