INDIA in F1

Tag: WorldSBK

  • Bulega steals it on the line to share the spoils with Razgatlioglu: WorldSBK

    Bulega steals it on the line to share the spoils with Razgatlioglu: WorldSBK

    Most (Czech Republic), 18 May 2025: In front of a weekend attendance of over 55,000 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) put on a show for the Czech fans at the Autodrom Most. The title contenders were separated by just 0.027s in Race 2 after a stunning 22 laps of Superbike action.

    Race 2 Highlights

    • Starting from pole position Razgatlioglu ceded the lead to Bulega who led for the first 11 laps. When the BMW took the lead at Turn 17 he was immediately attacked by Bulega into Turn 1 who proved his mettle and led for another lap before Razgatlioglu tried an unorthodox move at Turn 2
       
    • During the final laps of the race Razgatlioglu was under intense pressure from Bulega. The Italian rider was unable to attack until the very last moment. On Lap 22 he accelerated out of Turn 21 better than his rival and won the drag race to the line. It was Bulega’s eighth win of the season
       
    • Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) spent the first two third of the race behind Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and then held his rival at bay for the second time today as they finished in third and fourth positions
       
    • Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounded out the top six after a race long battle that was settled in the Australian’s favour
       
    • Having started from fifth on the grid Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was caught out by an incident with Jonathan Rea. The Yamaha rider was given a double long lap penalty for causing the crash that also saw Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) removed from contention. Rea would go on to finish 13th

    Championship Highlights

    • Bulega leads the championship by 31 points having conceded just three points to Razgatlioglu over the course of the round
    • A hat-trick of podiums vaulted Petrucci to third in the standings. The Italian is five points ahead of Bautista
    • Ducati lead the standings by 58 points from BMW

    P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
    “It’s been a really up-and-down weekend. On Friday, I had a huge crash, and now we’ve finished with a victory in Race 2. It’s been an incredible weekend. We never gave up and the team improved the bike a lot throughout the weekend. The bike felt much better today and I was able to ride how I like to. I’m really happy, especially because this circuit isn’t one that suits my riding style. To get the win here after such a tough start means a lot. Now I hope to repeat this performance at Misano.”

    P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
    “At the beginning of the race, I was just following Nicolo. When I felt ready, I passed him and tried to do my rhythm. In the final laps, I had too much spin. It was bad on the exit of the last corner. I was losing a lot on the straight, especially compared to the Ducati. I gave more than 100% in all the races this weekend. I’m a bit angry because the bike started to cut power and I lost the win at the last corner. Still, we did a good job, so thanks to my team and all the fans.”

    P3 – Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
    “I really wanted to be on the podium again but it was tough because Sam was really fast. We had the same pace, but I told myself, ‘I want that podium.’ He made one small mistake and I was there to take advantage. Congratulations to him, and also to Nicolò and Toprak, because they’re doing an incredible job. I’m really happy with the work my crew is doing. It’s been a weekend of third place finishes for me but we’re in the fight, and I’m very happy.”

    Race 2 Results

    1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
    2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.027s
    3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +16.276s
    4. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 16.452s
    5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +20.703s
    6. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +21.774s
    Fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) – 1’30.379s

    Championship standings

    1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 252 points
    2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 221
    3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 146
    4. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 141
    5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) 127
    6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 102

  • Toprak Razgatlioglu dominates at Autodrom Most: WorldSBK

    Toprak Razgatlioglu dominates at Autodrom Most: WorldSBK

    Most (Czech Republic), 17 May 2025: On a windy day at the Autodrom Most Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed his fifth win of the season. The Turkish rider clawed five points back in the title chase against Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).

    Race 1 Highlights

    • Starting from the middle of the front row Bulega claimed the lead on the opening lap and held Razgatlioglu at bay for the first four laps. Having attacked into Turn 1 the BMW rider then led for the remainder of the race
    • Razgatlioglu had to wait until half distance, lap 11 of 22, to open a gap of over a second and from that point onwards he controlled the gap to Bulega
    • Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) started third and rode a strong, consistent race to finish in the same position with a comfortable margin in hand to the riders behind
    • Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished in fourth position after a race long battle with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). He was beaten to the line by Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who made a last lap move into Turn 1 to take fifth position
    • Bautista started the race from the fourth row of the grid. He dropped to 16th position at one point following a first lap tangle that left Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) out of the race. The double World Champion made steady progress throughout to salvage his fifth place finish
    • Iker Lecuona continued his strong form of late with a seventh place finish for Honda HRC.

    P1 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
    “This was a very important victory because we started the weekend really strong. I’ve really missed this feeling. The wind was very strong today so at the beginning of the race I was trying to adapt my riding style but once I found my rhythm I had a fast pace. This win means a lot. We’ve improved the bike a lot but we still need more. We have two more races tomorrow and I hope we can win again.”

    P2 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
    “I tried to fight at the beginning. But when Toprak overtook me, I could understand after just a few corners that he had something extra today. I’m happy because second place is a very good result, especially after yesterday’s crash. It wasn’t easy to finish the race so I have to be happy and proud of what we achieved, both myself and the team.”

    P3 – Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
    “I tried to follow my strategy and hold onto third position because Nicolo and Toprak were a bit faster. They weren’t much faster but I was taking risks to stay with them. When I saw the gap behind me was increasing I decided to manage my pace. It wasn’t easy—this track has so many direction changes, and my back and arms were really suffering. This is a great podium for my team. I’m so happy, we’re working really well together, and this result is well deserved. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”

    Race 1 Results

    1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
    2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +6.015s
    3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +10.230s
    4. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +14.814s
    5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +15.520s
    6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +16.053s
    Fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) – 1’31.109s – new lap record

    Tissot Superpole Results

    1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’30.397s
    2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.033s
    3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.239s.

  • Toprak Razgatlioglu wins his second World Superbike championship, joins legends

    Toprak Razgatlioglu wins his second World Superbike championship, joins legends

    Jerez, 19 October 2024: Toprak Razgatlioglu has claimed the 2024 World Superbike Championship in his debut season with BMW, marking a historic milestone for both the rider and the manufacturer. The 2024 Champion secured the title at Jerez, where he once again proved to be the dominant force on the track.

    Throughout the season, Razgatlioglu consistently outpaced his competitors, amassing 17 victories and 25 podium finishes. This performance not only earned him the Championship but also solidified his place among the WorldSBK’s legends while establishing a formidable new partnership with BMW.

    Toprak Razgatlioglu began in the IDM Yamaha R6 Cup and Turkish Road Race 600cc Championship in 2011-2012. Moving to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, he secured a win at Sachsenring in 2014. Later that year, he debuted in the European Superstock 600 Championship with a win at Magny-Cours. Razgatlioglu joined WorldSBK full-time in 2015, claiming the Superstock 600 title in his first season. He competed in Superstock 1000 in 2016-2017, finishing second in his second year. In 2018, he debuted in WorldSBK with Kawasaki. Razgatlioglu won his first WorldSBK title with Yamaha in 2021, making history as the first Turkish rider to win the WorldSBK Championship. Joining BMW in 2024, Razgatlioglu further solidified his legacy by capturing his second WorldSBK title.

    By winning his second title, Toprak joins an elite club of multiple-title holders, including Alvaro Bautista, Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi, Troy Bayliss, James Toseland, Troy Corser, Colin Edwards, Carl Fogarty, Doug Polen, and Fred Merkel. His historic victory also sees him become the first BMW rider to capture the WorldSBK title, further establishing his legacy in the Championship.

    Razgatlioglu’s dominance this season was particularly evident during the Pirelli Portuguese Round, where he set a new record with 15 consecutive victories. After a crash in Free Practice at the Motul French Round left him injured, Razgatlioglu was forced to miss two rounds. However, he returned stronger from the Aragon Round onward, securing six podium finishes and extending his lead to 46 points over his Italian rival, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), ahead of the ultimate round of the season. 

    Looking ahead, fans can anticipate an exciting conclusion to the 2024 season, with the last two races of 2024 still to be contested. There’s no doubt that the newly crowned WorldSBK Champion will aim to continue his dominance and finish the season on a high note. Razgatlioglu will formally receive his trophy during the prestigious Prize Giving Ceremony, scheduled for Sunday evening at the Prometeon Spanish Round.

    Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team:

    “What does it like to be the World Champion? Right now, I have no stress and I’m not excited. For me, the season is finished. We have two more races tomorrow, but I’m just going to enjoy them and race without any stress. It’s been a long season. Nobody believed in me or BMW at the start but now everyone understands that we are the World Champions. This is a team effort because everyone worked hard and tried to improve in every race. Finally, we are World Champions and it’s incredible. BMW has never won the title before. I’ve got my second title and BMW has their first World Championship title. I’ll be using the number one next season because BMW deserves it after their first title.”

    Rider info

    Place of birth: Alanya, Turkey
    Age: 28 (born 16 October 1996)
    Team: ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
    Bike: BMW M 1000 RR

    First Race: Australia 2018
    Wins: 56
    Podium places: 140
    Pole positions: 18
    World Titles: 2 (2021 Yamaha YZF-R1) (2024 BMW M1000RR).

  • Toprak Razgatlioglu takes 8th win in a row: WorldSBK

    Toprak Razgatlioglu takes 8th win in a row: WorldSBK

    Race 1 Highlights

    • Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made it eight wins in a row after dominating the 22 lap race. With a winning margin of over five seconds it was a comfortable success for the Turkish star who now leads the championship by 56 points from Bulega
       
    • From the second row of the grid Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) came through to finish second. The Italian matched his career best performance in the Superbike class and claimed his second podium of the season
       
    • Having opted for the harder front tyre, Iannone rounded out the podium positions. The Italian dropped from second position to fourth position at one third distance but made his way back to the podium
       
    • Having started from the second row of the grid Bulega also opted for the harder front tyre. He had a difficult race and ended in sixth position but held on to second position in the championship standings
       
    • Having suffered a grid penalty, Bautista spent the majority of the race in sixth position before making progress in the final seven laps. He first picked off his teammate Bulega on Lap 14 and then Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) with four laps remaining.

    Tissot Superpole Highlights

    • Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) smashed the lap record during the 15 minute Superpole session. His time, 1’30.064, left him comfortably on pole position for the fourth time this season
       
    • A third front row of the season was Andrea Iannone’s reward for a superb effort in Superpole. The Team GoEleven rider matched his best qualifying performance of the season in second position
       
    • A three place grid penalty dropped Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to tenth position for Race 1. The double World Champion ended Superpole 0.953s slower than Razgatlioglu. His teammate, Nicolo Bulega, qualified off the front row of the grid for the first time in 2024.

    Key Points:

    Pole position: Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
    Race 1 winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu
    Race fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu 1’31.540s.

    P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
    “I’m happy. We have won again and we had an amazing lap time in the Superpole session. I pushed a lot on the first lap and then I just found my rhythm. I had a very good pace in the race but during the the last five laps the front was closing, especially on the left corner. After last year, when I crashed at corner two, it’s an incredible win. I want to say thanks to my team because we did an incredible job today! We have two more races tomorrow, and that’s my focus now.”

    P2 | Danilo Petrucci | Barni Spark Racing Team
    “I’m really happy. I said that we could fight for the podium but when you are in the race you have to fight really hard to get that podium. At the beginning, I had a bit of trouble but then I saw that Nicolo and Andrea were a bit slower going into the corners and I tried to go ahead of them. Andrea gave me a hard time until the end. I know him very well and on the last lap it is always special with him! I tried to close the doors on that lap. I can’t believe I’m here after my motocross accident and now I’m again on the podium! I want to say thanks to everyone who helped me and we’ll try again tomorrow!”

    P3 | Andrea Iannone | Team GoEleven
    “I’m really happy about today because we recovered a lot from yesterday. After FP1, we were 15th in the classification. My team believed in me and I want to thank them for believing we can achieve a great result today. It was a really difficult race because the temperature was really high. With Danilo in front it made it difficult for my tyre temperature and it wasn’t easy in the braking points for corners. Danilo rode faster than me today, Toprak was unbelievable but I didn’t give up and I tried my best. We’ll try a little more tomorrow!”

  • Perfect weekend for dominant Razgatlioglu at Donington Park

    Perfect weekend for dominant Razgatlioglu at Donington Park

    • Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) dominated the UK Round of WorldSBK with pole position, three victories and three fastest laps at Donington Park
       
    • Razgatlioglu extends his championship lead to 41 points from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) a further 14 points adrift.

    Tissot Superpole Race Highlights:

    • Bulega took the hole-shot and led the opening two laps before Razgatlioglu came through to lead at Turn 11
       
    • Razgatlioglu opened his lead consistently to take the victory by just under five second from Bulega
       
    • Starting from the middle of the third row Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was able to move into third position on the opening lap. With riders fighting behind him Rea opened a lead over the chasing pack and after 14 races was able to claim his first Yamaha podium
       
    • After suffering a technical failure in Race 1 Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) claimed his first top five finish of the season in fourth position. Redding ran inside the top six throughout before moving past Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) as the race progressed to finish fourth

    Race 2 highlights: 

    • A crash for Bautista on his way to the grid for Race 2 saw the Ducati team repair his bike on the grid. Despite a good start he dropped down the order from sixth position on the grid. The Spaniard recovered to finish fifth
       
    • Razgatlioglu led for the 23 lap duration of Race 2 with the BMW rider able to claim his seventh consecutive victory. The win also marked his ninth for BMW and equalled the record of Marco Melandri as the most successful rider for the German manufacturer
       
    • Bulega was the closest challenger to Razgatlioglu throughout the race and held an advantage of two seconds to the chasing pack for much of the race. It was Bulega’s eighth second place finish of the season
       
    • Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the leading British rider once again and finished third after battling with Redding for the opening third of the race

    Key Points:

    Pole position: Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’24.629s
    Race 1 winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu 
    Tissot Superpole winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu 
    Race 2 winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu 
    Race fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu – 1’25.597s – new lap record.

    P1| Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
    “I’m feeling incredible. My target coming here was to win all three races and we did that. I’m strong but my bike was also incredible at this circuit, and the team found improvements for the bike each day. I want to say thank you to everyone because I’m really happy about how this weekend went. We will see what happens in the next race but even though there are many races to go we can look to the World Championship title.”
     

    P2 | Nicolo Bulega| Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
    “I’m really happy because we improved the bike from yesterday. I worked a lot with all my guys inside the garage and we found some improvements. The feeling on the bike was better and it was a great Superpole Race this morning. I started really well and then Toprak overtook me. When he overtook me I forgot about him because this weekend he was very fast. In Race 2 I understood that if I could follow Toprak during the first laps I could open a gap to the riders behind. Alex was very fast at the end and he pushed until the last lap. It’s very difficult to keep your concentration and stay on the bike until the last corner, but I’m really happy to have another podium.”
     

    P3 | Alex Lowes | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
    “I’m delighted. I was on the limit for the whole race. I didn’t make the best start and I had to attack from the first lap to pass Johnny and Alvaro and then I managed to pass Scott. I hoped that Nicolo would come back to me a little bit, but his pace was relentless. I was on my limit to stay in third and I couldn’t do any more. I wanted to try to get into second but I wasn’t fast enough. I did a good job this weekend and the team did a fantastic job. I really enjoyed the weekend. To have two podiums at my home round is a dream come true with everybody here.”

  • Razgatlioglu and Bautista share honours at the Cathedral: WorldSBK

    Razgatlioglu and Bautista share honours at the Cathedral: WorldSBK

    Assen, 21 April 2024: Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) shared the spoils on Sunday in Assen. In the ten lap Tissot Superpole Race Bautista led the field home after a stunning comeback ride saw him come through the field to take the lead from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) on the penultimate lap.

    Starting from pole position, Bautista led the majority of the first half of Race 2 but with spots of rain in the air the field closed up. Razgatlioglu choose this as his moment to pounce but with Bautista retaking the lead before Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) mixed it in.

    The Turkish moved into the lead for the final six laps but was under pressure throughout the closing stages. Bautista would finish less than a second behind the race winner with Gardner able to claim his first career podium. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) finished in fourth position ahead of Locatelli.

    When WorldSBK returns to action there will be just six points separating Bautista and Razgatlioglu with Bulega a further eight points adrift after a difficult weekend. The Italian finished Race 2 in eighth position.

    P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu  | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
    “Grid position isn’t important because it’s the race that matters. I enjoyed this race. At the start there was a bit of rain. I stayed close just to watch the guys and understand what to do. I needed a good pace and I passed people step by step and finally I was in the lead! We made a mistake in the Superpole Race with the tyre so I used the SC0 tyre in the afternoon and it worked well. I want to say thanks to my team’s hard work this weekend because finally we have won in Assen! I’ve never won here before and also for BMW they hadn’t won here. I’m very happy today!”

    P2 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
    “I’m really happy with how the whole weekend has been. To finish all three races on the podium in these conditions is a pleasure. Race 1 was really tricky and I enjoyed the Superpole Race a lot. There was some light rain in the afternoon and it was a bit difficult. I tried to keep a little bit of margin and I think second position was good. I’m really happy and we are building my confidence with the bike.”

    P3 | Remy Gardner | GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team
    “It’s been two years without a podium for me so yeah I’ve definitely had some really hard times. Obviously, everyone knows my GP story and then we didn’t get a podium last year when I moved to WorldSBK. It’s been a big challenge for me and I just want to say thank you to my girlfriend and my team and everyone that has believed in me. Finally it’s so good to be back on the podium again and I can’t wait to go to the next race already.”

    WorldSBK Race 2 Results

    1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
    2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.625s
    3. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +1.022
    4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +3.120s
    5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +3.217s
    6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +5.174

    Championship Standings

    1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 123 points
    2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)  117 points
    3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 109 points

    WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race Results

    1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
    2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.686s
    3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +7.403s
    4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +7.551s
    5. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +8.177s
    6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +9.114s

  • Tyre gamble pays off for WorldSBK debutant Spinelli: WorldSBK

    Tyre gamble pays off for WorldSBK debutant Spinelli: WorldSBK

    Assen, 20 April 2024: A brave tyre gamble paid off for the Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) at the TT Circuit Assen in Race 1 of the Dutch Round. On a drying track the Italian rider, making his WorldSBK debut, was the only rider to opt for intermediate tyres and he was rewarded with a stunning victory. Spinelli, a replacement rider for the injured Danilo Petrucci, was immediately able to get to the front of the field and led every lap before a red flag ended proceedings. The red flag was brought about by a technical failure for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and ensured the first WorldSBK victory for the long standing Barni Spark Racing Team.

    Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) joined Spinelli on the podium but the red flag, on Lap 14, cost them the chance to win the race. The duo had closed down a margin of over 20 seconds at one point before being in position to attack for the win prior to the stoppage.

    Earlier in the day Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) splashed his way to Superpole success in wet conditions. The Northern Irishman claimed the 44th pole position of his career and his first for Yamaha. He will start tomorrow’s ten lap Tissot Superpole Race from pole position and came away from Race 1 with a sixth place finish.

    Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started from the front row of the grid but had to settle for just 11th position at the end of the race. He maintains a championship lead but is now just one point ahead of Razgatlioglu and Bautista.

    P1 | Nicholas Spinelli | Barni Spark Racing Team
    “It’s incredible because this is my first race and I am in front of Toprak and Bautista! It’s really incredible. The first time I rode a Superbike was in Friday Practice but this bike is very strong. I have tried to approach this weekend step by step and session for session. I don’t have experience with this bike. I told my team that I didn’t know which tyre to use and the team decided to go for the intermediate. I had a gap of 25 seconds but by the last lap the gap was closer! When I saw it was four seconds I thought ‘no! It’s over for me.’ When I saw the red flag it was very lucky for me but that’s the race! I’m happy for this win because it’s very incredible.”

    P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
    “Firstly, congratulations to Spinelli. I needed just one more lap but the race finished like this. I was enjoying this race a lot. The first laps were exciting because the first sector was wet and we were sliding. You are trying to stay on the line for this. I needed a victory here for BMW but in the end we finished in second position. We will see what happens tomorrow but everyone is working hard for the best position possible.”

    P3 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
    “This was a crazy race! It seemed like the first half of the race was about relaxing and not making a mistake but the second part of the race was attacking at 100% or even 120%! It was crazy. In the beginning there were a lot of overtakes all around the lap. It was crazy but I enjoyed this race a lot. The red flag meant that we missed the last seven laps and I think it was going to be a good battle for the victory with Toprak. In any case I’m happy and congratulations to Spinelli because it was incredible. It was a really good tyre choice.

    WorldSBK Race 1 Results

    1. Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team)
    2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +1.979s
    3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.089s
    4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +4.851s
    5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +5.147s
    6. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +5.376s

    Championship Standings

    1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 92 points
    2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 91 points
    3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 91 points

    WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Results

    1. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’42.650s
    2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.094
    3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.353s

  • Rookie Nicolo Bulega wins historic maiden win: WorldSBK

    Rookie Nicolo Bulega wins historic maiden win: WorldSBK

    • Nicolo Bulega achieved a remarkable feat by winning Race 1 at Phillip Island on his WorldSBK debut, becoming the first rider to accomplish this since Alvaro Bautista in 2019.
    • After four years away from racing, Andrea Iannone made a stunning return, leading the race and ultimately securing a podium finish.
    • Despite initially finishing in fourth place, Toprak Razgatlioglu received a penalty for a Pit Intervention Time infringement, which dropped him to fifth.

    Philip Island, 24 February 2024: WorldSBK Race 1 at Phillip Island provided thrilling action and historic moments with intense battles among the leading riders and strategic maneuvers during the pit stop phase between Laps 9 and 11.Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) stole the show by claiming victory on his WorldSBK debut, achieving a remarkable feat as the first WorldSSP Reigning Champion to win on his first SBK race, marking an unprecedented accomplishment in the championship’s history.
    Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) displayed impressive pace and strategy to claim second place. Making a sensational return to racing, Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) secured third place after leading in the early stages of the race. Locatelli and Iannone completed an all-Italian podium sweep, echoing a milestone last achieved in 1993.

    Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) demonstrated strong competitiveness, finishing in fourth position, followed closely by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK), who initially crossed the line in fourth but was demoted to fifth.
    Alvaro Bautista(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) struggled to find his rhythm, ultimately finishing in 15th position after a crash, while Jonathan Rea’s(Pata Prometeon Yamaha) difficulties persisted as he crossed the line outside the points in 17th place. Australian Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK), encountered misfortune during the race, as a collision with another rider led to an early retirement.

    P1 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

    “Maybe it’s the best day of my life! It’s difficult to already believe it but it is something incredible; I was dreaming about this for many months but now it’s reality. I took pole position; I won my first race and got the lap record. It’s something special that I’ll never forget.
    I started to cry a little bit and then, there were good emotions as I saw all my guys on the finish line and all my guys with a big, incredible smile. It was so nice for me. It’s incredible because this team is like my second family, and they always believed in me. When I came here from Moto2™, I was in a bad moment, but they kept believing. This is my third year with them, and we started in a very good way. I’ll try to continue giving them a lot of smiles. I’m ready for my first Tissot Superpole Race and I’ll try to do my best.”

  • Ducati seals Manufacturers’ Title with Bautista’s Race 1 win in Portimao

    Ducati seals Manufacturers’ Title with Bautista’s Race 1 win in Portimao

    Portimao, 30 Sept. 2023: Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his Championship mettle in an electrifying Race 1 at Portimao, sealing a hard-fought victory to extend his lead in the standings by five points. It was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) who initially grabbed the lead, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) making a jaw-dropping recovery after a Turn 3 incident. However, Bautista’s unwavering determination led him to overtake and secure his 22nd win of the season, closing in on the all-time Ducati record held by Carl Fogarty. Ducati also celebrated as Bautista’s win guaranteed them the 2023 Manufacturers’ Title.

    In the fierce battle for fourth place, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) emerged victorious ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took the flag in seventh. The race also witnessed Andrea Locatelli’s (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) strong charge from the back of the grid to ninth place, setting the stage for an intriguing Tissot Superpole Race.

    With his Race 1 win, Bautista further solidified his standing atop the Championship, now leading by 52 points.

    P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
    “For sure, today has been a really good day for Ducati because they won the Manufacturers’ Title. I’m so happy to be part of this success. Congratulations to all the Ducati family! I’m also happy from my side because today was a very difficult day for me. In the Superpole, we made a small change to the bike that didn’t work, and I couldn’t set a good lap time. But, in any case, I was confident for the race. Certainly, track conditions were tricky with the strong wind. The wind was different on every lap, and for me, it was difficult to understand and find reference points. At the beginning, I enjoyed the battle with Jonathan and Toprak. I took the lead. It was challenging for me to maintain the same pace as yesterday afternoon or this morning because the wind was too strong. Maybe it’s because I’m light, and I feel it more, but I tried to understand it and not make any mistakes. Toprak was pushing hard, I was keeping an eye on the gap, and it remained constant. Congratulations to him because he made a big improvement between yesterday and today, and he was able to match my race pace. As for me, I tried not to make any mistakes, and today I could win again, so I’m very happy.”

    If Bautista wins both races on Sunday, Razgatlioglu must finish second to take the title fight to Jerez.

  • Title defender Bautista bounces back with a Race 2 win: WorldSBK

    Title defender Bautista bounces back with a Race 2 win: WorldSBK

    Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) bounced back spectacularly from his Race 1 disaster to seize victory in Race 2. The Spaniard, now third in the all-time winners’ list, showed his mettle by notching up his 53rd WorldSBK career win. Behind him, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) tried to keep his championship hopes alive with a determined second-place finish. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who previously won Race 1, secured the final spot on the podium, confirming a strong form in the latter stages of the season.

    Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who started with a strong lead but couldn’t maintain his front position, fought hard to secure fourth place. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) put in a solid performance to clinch fifth place. The Italian rider got off to a promising start, steadily gaining positions, and managed to hold his ground amidst the competition, finishing just a second behind Rea. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) rounded out the top six.

    Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was a prominent figure in WorldSBK Race 2 at Aragon. He made a significant impact by storming into second place early in the race. Unfortunately, his race took an unexpected turn due to a technical issue, which forced him to drop out of contention.

    Alvaro Bautista roared back to form with a commanding victory in Race 2 at Aragon, reminding everyone of his title aspirations. His Championship lead is now of 47 points over Razgatlioglu.

    P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
    “I am so happy to get two victories on Sunday. Since Misano, I haven’t won two races on a Sunday! I’m happy, especially today, because I can reset from yesterday. We started from zero from the feeling I had and in Warm Up, I felt very good. In the Superpole Race, it was amazing with Jonathan, Toprak and myself. We did a great race with three different rear tyres, so the level was really high. I felt good as the pace was so fast and, in the end, I was able to overtake them both on the last lap. I thought I could fight for the victory and I just tried, without thinking about anything else. I’m happy as I did my best.
    In the afternoon, the conditions were very critical as it was very hot and it wasn’t easy for the tyres – life or the performance. From the first lap, I felt the rear spinning a lot and I didn’t have good traction. I tried to not push the rear a lot and I forced the front more and after mid-race, I felt a drop on the front and in many corners, I felt like it was closing. Fortunately, I had a good gap and I could manage the distance. In two very different races, we were able to be competitive. It’s not been an easy weekend but it’s been good for the feeling of the bike and we have to keep fighting; we can’t make more mistakes. This weekend, I’ve learnt that even if a track fits well to me and the bike, you can’t be confident 100%. In the races, everything is possible and anything can happen. I think we need more humility and try to stay focussed and not to relax.“