Toprak Razgatlioglu took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at Autodrom Most, in The Czech Republic. Riding his Pirelli-shod ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR on the 2.61-mile (4.21km), the 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion recorded a lap time of 1:30.397 to lead the field of 22 riders.
Nicolo Bulega qualified second with a 1:30.430 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci did a 1:30.636 on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R to earn the third and final spot on the front row.
Row two starters include Kawasaki bimota KB998 Rimini’s Alex Lowes (1:30.779), Honda HRC CBR1000 RR-R’s Iker Lecuona (1:30.808), and Remy Gardner on his GYTR GRT Yamaha YZF R1 (1:30.873).
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 8th with a 1:30.954 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Razgatlioglu rockets to Most pole as he pips Bulega by 0.033s, all six manufacturers in the top ten. ‘El Turco’ continued his streak of topping sessions at Most as he claimed pole by just a third of a tenth ahead of title rival Bulega.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made it three Autodrom Most pole positions in a row in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship after putting in a 1’30.397s lap time during the Tissot Superpole session. ‘El Turco’ had topped all three practice sessions and now added pole position to his name during the Motul Czech Round, finishing just 0.033s ahead of title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).
THE FIRST RUN: three flying laps for Razgatlioglu, Bulega an early P2
Razgatlioglu was the fastest rider on the first lap with a 1’30.989s, matching his fastest lap of the weekend, before Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) set a 1’30.788s to claim provisional pole. Times improved on riders’ second laps with Razgatlioglu finding a huge half-a-second for a 1’30.450s to cement his place at the top of the timesheets. On a third consecutive lap, Razgatlioglu improved further to a 1’30.397s, while Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) slotted into second with a 1’30.606s as he set his first lap time later in the session.
SECURING POLE: Toprak’s first run enough for P1, Bulega and Petrucci on the front row
The #1 posted an incredible 1’29.799s but with yellow flags out for Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) after he crashed at Turn 21, he lost the time. However, his 1’30.397s to claim pole ahead of Bulega, his 20th in WorldSBK, who closed the gap down to just 0.033s. The top three didn’t change from the first run with Petrucci securing third place, 0.239s behind Razgatlioglu, as he claimed his seventh front row start in WorldSBK.
FIVE MANUFACTURERS IN THE TOP SIX: Lecuona claims P5, Gardner sixth
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) took fourth as he goes in search of Bimota’s first podium since their return to WorldSBK, lapping just under four tenths back from the pole time. Five manufacturers were in the top six with Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) putting his CBR1000RR-R machine in fifth place ahead of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in sixth. With teammate Xavi Vierge’s P5 at Cremona and Lecuona’s at Most, it marks the first time Honda have had two top-five Superpole results in a season since 2022. However, the #87 will serve a ride-through penalty in Race 1 for crashing under yellow flags during FP1 on Friday.
UPS AND DOWNS: best 2025 Superpole for Montella and Gerloff, worst for Bautista
Rookie Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) impressed as he took a third-row start with seventh after posting a 1’30.943s, ahead of Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) in eighth. Both the #5 and the #31 secured their best Superpole result of the season in seventh and eighth respectively. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), who’d been quick throughout the weekend, was ninth after he had a lap time deleted due to yellow flags while Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was tenth; his worst Superpole result of the season.
The top six from WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:
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
4. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.382s
5. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) +0.411s
6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.476s
Don’t miss Race 1 from Most at 14:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 30% off!