Ducati racer Nicolo Bulega has pulled off a hat-trick, sweeping the opening World Superbike championship round at Phillip Island.
The Italian had already stunned the grid on Saturday when he outpaced reigning champion Toprak Razgatlioglu by a monster 4.811 seconds.
Bulega claimed his second win at the iconic Victorian track by 2.324 seconds in the SuperPole race on Sunday, before beating Phillip Island expert Alvaro Bautista for his third victory in race two.
It is Bulega's career-first sweep after topping every session in Australia, building a 26-point lead over teammate Bautista in the standings.
"What a way to start the championship," Bulega said.
"I’m happy because my feeling was good from the first session of the Monday test.
"Every time I go on the bike, I know what I can do and what I have to do.
"I’m just enjoying riding my bike, lap by lap, and it’s an amazing feeling."
Bautista walked away with his second podium after race two, the two-time champion finishing third in race one.
The Spaniard was forced to accept a sub-standard 19th-placed finish in the SuperPole race, as Andrea Iannone came runner-up and Danilo Petrucci third for an all-Italian podium.
Turkey's Razgatlioglu was 13th in the first race on Sunday before failing to complete the final, ending his streak of top-two finishes going back to round 10 last year.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) - 62pts
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) - 36
3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) - 35
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) - 31
5. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) - 30
