Nicolo Brega, a rider for Factory Ducati WorldSBK, expressed frustration over difficulties with the Ducati Panigale V4 R during the UK World Superbike event. Despite starting all three races in second position at Donington, Brega struggled with poor starts, which forced him to fight hard to maintain that position behind Top Lac Laz Gatriogle.
Although he managed to finish second in Race 2 after a third disappointing start, Brega noted some improvement following the Superpole race. “I feel better than yesterday and this morning,” he said after Race 2, but admitted that progress still fell short of expectations. Brega pointed out the main issue was with his race starts, having had three bad starts over the weekend without a clear reason. “I’ve asked the team to review all three starts because this is unusual,” he added.
He believes the problem lies in the clutch feel, describing the first phase of the clutch release as overly aggressive, causing him to lose crucial time and acceleration. The issue was evident even from the Superpole race and worsened in Race 2.
Brega also discussed his tire choices affecting his battle with Alvaro Bautista, noting he used the SC0 softer tires while Bautista had SCX tires. He acknowledged Bautista’s strong pace toward the race’s end and explained, “We were fortunate to finish very close because I heard his engine approaching as we entered the final three corners, so I stayed close and braked hard.”
Fan Take: This highlights the fine margins riders deal with in WorldSBK, where even small mechanical or setup issues can drastically affect race outcomes. Fans should watch closely as Ducati and Brega work to resolve these starting problems, which could reshape the championship battle.
