Nicolo Bulega put the 2023 WorldSSP Championship title within easy reach for next weekend’s penultimate round in Portugal after reeling off his second consecutive double win at Aragon.

Following on from his pair of wins last time out at Magny-Cours, Bulega was again a league beyond his competitors as he succeeded in protecting the lead into Turn 1 from pole position before sprinting clear.

The race itself was brought to a premature conclusion just a few corners shy of the scheduled chequered flag due to an incident involving Performance Technical Racing’s Niki Tuuli, the Finn losing control of his Triumph STR765 after getting loose on the exit of Turn 7 before being flicked into off the bike and into the barriers.

It meant Bulega’s winning margin was counted at +2.2s over Stefano Manzi, who kept the title race alive for at least another race by finishing second.

Indeed, Manzi’s 11th place finish in Race 1 - the consequence of a mistake on the final lap - meant Bulega came into the second encounter with a mathematical chance to wrap up the title in Spain. 

While that wouldn’t come to pass, his win ensures an 85 point lead heading to Portimao, thus making a top six results in either race sufficient for the crown, no matter how Manzi performs.

Behind Manzi, Federico Caricasulo picked up the final podium position, the Althea Ducati rider running second initially before being overhauled by the Ten Kate Yamaha man early on.

He was still quick enough to keep the MV Agusta front-line at bay, Bahattin Sofuoflu this time leading Marcel Schroetter in fourth and fifth respectively, while Jorge Navarro - who had been tussling with Tuuli at the time of his accident - rounded out the top six.

Further back, Tom Booth-Amos ran inside the top ten initially before fading to 11th place, while John McPhee notched up his first points with the D34G Ducati team in 13th position. Tarran Mackenzie was 22nd.