Lukas Tulovic at the Race of Champions in Misano: “That was brilliant”

At World Ducati Week, the Italian manufacturer from Borgo Panigale is celebrating its 100th anniversary with its fans. The highlight was the Race of Champions, in which Ducati riders from the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships go head-to-head, joined by riders from national championships such as Germany’s number one, Lukas Tulovic.

A week earlier, at Round 2 of the Euro Moto series in Most, he’d badly singed his left calf on the overheated engine block of his Ducati V4R, but by the time he arrived at Misano, the pain from the previous week was almost forgotten. The race is a show event. The riders compete on more or less standard Ducati Panigale V4S bikes with 1103 ccm engines and Pirelli slicks; the bikes are painted in the same livery as those in their respective championships.

Lukas Tulovic neben Alvaro Bautista

Foto: Tulovic

Even though there’s not really anything at stake in the race, and the riders certainly have their respective main jobs in the Superbike World Championship, MotoGP or the national series on their minds, there’s a racer in every participant and none of them want to make a fool of themselves in front of the thousands of spectators lining the track.

The race got underway from pole position for Superbike serial winner Bulega, who is on course for the WorldSBK title. The Italian crossed the line unchallenged ahead of his SBK colleagues Alberto Surra and Lorenzo Baldassarri. Pecco Bagnaia was the highest-placed MotoGP rider, finishing fifth, whilst Marc Marquez came twelfth. The birthday race went off without a hitch.

Whilst all eyes were on the front-runners and the battle between the WorldSBK and MotoGP riders, Lukas Tulovic – last year’s IDM Superbike champion and current Euro Moto leader – was right in the thick of the action. He had started from 14th on the grid. He finished in 9th place and celebrated his success with a hearty wheelie as he crossed the finish line. This was topped off with a lengthy burnout in the pit lane.

Lukas Tulovic kurvt vor Marquez rum

Foto: Tulovic

“No matter how it turned out,” Tulovic assured, beaming with joy shortly after taking off his helmet, “it feels like a victory. It was one of the most fun races of my career. It’s really brilliant in front of a crowd like this. Mille grazie to everyone. It was absolutely brilliant. I gave it my all to fly the flag for Germany. Hopefully it’ll work out again at the next WDW in 2028.”

After a short break, Tulovic will be straight back to work. This time, he’ll be on the Sky commentary desk covering the Sachsenring GP.

Race of Champions Misano/I results

1. Nicolo Bulega

2. Alberto Surra

3. Lorenzo Baldassarri

4. Yari Montella

5. Francesco Bagnaia

6. Tommy Bridewell

7. Franco Morbidelli

8. Fabio Di Giannantonio

9. Lukas Tulovic

10. Hafizh Syahrin

11. Tarran Mackenzie

12. Marc Márquez

13. P. J. Jacobsen

14. Josh Waters

15. Michele Pirro (DNF)

16. Álvaro Bautista (DNF)

Es war der Hammer

Foto: Tulovic