Nicolo Bulega won the World Superbike Tissot Superpole Race Sunday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R, the Italian won the 10-lap race by 4.055 seconds.

His teammate, Alvaro Bautista was the runner-up, and Andrea Iannone was third on his Team Pata Go Eleven Ducati Panigale V4R. 

Americans Garrett Gerloff finished 17th on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR and wildcard Bobby Fong crossed the finish line 19th on his Attack Performance Yamaha YZF R1. 

2024 WorldSuperbike Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu crashed his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR on Turn 5. 

Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the championship with 600 points, 22 ahead of Nicolo Bulega who has 578 points. Alvaro Bautista is third with 317 points.

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

BIG TWISTS: Bulega takes victory despite penalty for Razgatlioglu collision, #1 to start Race 2 from P10. The title fight will go to the final race of the season after a dramatic opening lap in the Tissot Superpole Race. 

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed victory despite a collision with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in the Tissot Superpole Race for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The pair came together at Turn 5 on the opening lap with the title fight going to Race 2 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia, with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) completing the podium at the Pirelli Spanish Round.

BULEGA AND RAZGATLIOGLU COLLIDE: It all goes down to Race 2…

The title race took a HUGE twist when Bulega and Razgatlioglu collided at Turn 5, with ‘El Turco’ sliding into the gravel and out of the race. The incident was placed under investigation by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards, with the #11 given a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding. Bulega went on to take victory and take 12 points out of Razgatlioglu’s Championship lead even after his penalty, while Razgatlioglu will start Race 2 from the fourth row in tenth place. The reigning Champion holds a 22-point lead over Bulega heading into Race 2, meaning Bulega has to win with a non-score for Razgatlioglu to claim the title: ‘El Turco’ needs to lose 22 points or fewer to win the title, with countback going in his favour. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) battled his way up to second, ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) who completed the podium.

STARTING RACE 2 FROM THE SECOND ROW: Vierge resists Lowes for P4

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) once again fought for a podium, finishing in fourth place behind ‘The Maniac’ as he closed the gap on Iannone throughout the final few laps. However, he also had to resist a challenge from Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) to hold on to P4, with the #22 finishing fifth. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) made a late move on Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) to claim sixth place, demoting the #95 to seventh.

MACKENZIE ON THE THIRD ROW: A strong weekend for the #95

Mackenzie is enjoying one of his strongest weekends of the season, although will go from Race 2 from the third row after losing out to ‘Loka’. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) used the SCQ tyre to move up the order to P8 with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) securing P9.

CRASHING OUT: Gardner, Rea come together on the opening lap

Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed on the opening lap at Turn 3, with both riders taken to the medical centre for a check-up. The incident was investigated after the race. Rea will be reassessed ahead of Race 2, after being diagnosed with a right knee sprain and contusion. Gardner will also be reassessed ahead of this afternoon’s race; he was diagnosed with a right shoulder contusion.

The top nine from WorldSBK Superpole Race, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +4.055s

3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) +5.236s

4. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +6.484s

5. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +6.900s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +8.637s

7. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) +9.309s

8. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) +11.469s

9. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +11.983s

Don’t miss the final race of the season at 14:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – only €9.99!