Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. The 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion rode his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR to a 0.030- second margin of victory in the 18-lap race.
Nicolo Bulega was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R and just held off Sam Lowes, who rode his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4 R to third.
Danilo Petrucci crossed the finish line fourth on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.
American Garrett Gerloff went from 15th on the grid to 15th at the finish on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the championship with 494 points, 44 ahead of Nicolo Bulega who has 450 points. Danilo Petrucci is third with 273 points.
ChampionshipStandings wsbk
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
LUCKY NUMBER 13: Razgatlioglu equals record winning streak as he fends off Bulega for Aragon victory. ‘El Turco’ made it 13 victories in a row after resisting his title rival’s challenge throughout an absolutely incredible 18-lap race.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put on a stunning show at MotorLand Aragon after a stunning 18-lap Race 1 at MotorLand Aragon. ‘El Turco’ beat his rival to the top step of the rostrum but he didn’t have it all his own way at the Tissot Aragon Round as ‘Bulegas’ made him work hard for his 13th win in a row and his first victory at the Spanish circuit.
Elbows out over the first three laps: Razgatlioglu vs Bulega ignites
As the lights went out, Razgatlioglu was combative through Turn 1 to claim the lead ahead of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) which demoted the #11 into third, but he passed Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) at Turn 7 and then Razgatlioglu at Turn 16 to move back into P1 on the opening lap. On Lap 2, ‘El Turco’ got back ahead at Turn 8 to move back into the lead, and the #11 was unable to respond at Turn 16; but did so at Turn 1 on the following lap – before Razgatlioglu held position around the outside to give him the inside line at Turn 2.
The fight continues: Razgatlioglu fends off Bulega after unbelievable scrap
It wouldn’t be until Lap 5 when Bulega got back ahead, outbraking his rival at Turn 1 with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) following the top two very closely, but ‘El Turco’ responded at Turn 15 as they traded positions once again. On the exit of Turn 17, Bulega was briefly ahead but the #1 kept position under braking at Turn 1. On Lap 7, the pair switched again as ‘Bulegas’ got ahead at Turn 1 but Razgatlioglu followed him closely, moving him out of the way at Turn 15. Lap 8 saw them follow the same Turn 1 move once again as the #11 moved briefly into P1, before ‘El Turco’ responded at Turn 7. Bulega had a couple of looks at Turn 1 over the next few laps, but couldn’t make a move stick, before two-time Champion Razgatlioglu pulled out a gap over Bulega on the run to Turn 16 on Lap 10. Things stabilised a bit more until Lap 13 when the Ducati rider had a look at Turn 1, but Razgatlioglu was again able to defend. The race ignited on the final lap when Bulega attempted to pass the BMW star at Turn 1, with ‘El Turco’ holding on there. The gap heading into sector three was 0.338s, with Bulega in range, but despite closing up through Turns 16-17, Razgatlioglu held on for victory; the #11 set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap. It meant Razgatlioglu made it 13 wins in a row, equalling his own record, as he ended his Aragon drought. It was his 19th win of the year, the most he’s recorded in a single season, as Bulega claimed his 48th podium. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) completed the rostrum with P3, after having the best seat in the house for a truly epic fight.
Petrucci P4, Bautista crashes: contrasting fortunes for Ducati riders
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was under pressure from Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) until the final third of the race, when the #19 tumbled out of contention at Turn 15. That fall promoted Alex Lowes into fifth place while Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) made a late pass on Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) to claim sixth ahead of his compatriot.
Comeback for Bassani: 15 places gained for the #47
Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) started from 23rd on the grid after receiving a penalty for not respecting yellow flags in FP2, but ‘El Bocia’ was able to fight his way through the field to claim a remarkable P8. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) was ninth with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) rounding out the top ten.
Housekeeping from race 1: the final points scorers and classified runners
Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was just two seconds away from van der Mark as he narrowly missed out on a top-ten spot. The Swiss rider was a second clear of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) in 12th while Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) and Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) completed the points-paying positions. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was 16th ahead of Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team), Michael Rinaldi (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), Tommy Bridewell (Honda HRC) and Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team).
Race 1 retirements: Mackenzie, Gardner don’t finish the race
Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) was the first retirement from the race when he pulled off the track with a technical problem at Turn 4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) retired from the race after 16 laps after running close to the top ten.
The top six from Race 1, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’49.049s
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.030s
3. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.977s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 4.114s
5. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +6.485s
6. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +7.427s
Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) – 1’49.040s (Lap 18 of 18)
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