P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Nicolo Bulega has arguably the toughest challenge on his hands this season, which is contending with two-time WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista as his team-mate.
Bulega, who competed as a one-man team in WorldSSP last season, now has Bautista as his teammate for his rookie WorldSBK campaign. Bautista had an incredibly dominant season in 2023, winning 27 out of 37 races, making it the most dominant season ever by a rider. Bulega now faces the challenge of not only matching his teammate’s performance, but also trying to beat him at times. Although it may not be expected of him initially, as he gains experience and becomes more comfortable with the Superbike machinery, Bulega will also face pressure to perform well, as Rinaldi did last year. Bulega expressed his excitement to be a part of the team and learn from Bautista, acknowledging the tough competition he will have. Team principal Cecconi explained that Bulega was not a gamble, but rather a strategic choice based on his potential and previous success in WorldSSP.
