The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was back for one final time this weekend for a sensational Race 2 which resulted in Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) completing a dominant weekend and his third hat-trick in a row. The #54 also claimed his 130th podium in WorldSBK, equalling Troy Corser at the all-time spot.
HAT-TRICK WEEKEND: Toprak adds to his win tally
Razgatlioglu took his third victory of the weekend, finishing a perfect Czech Round after topping the timesheets in every session. At the line, “El Turco” would take the Race 2 win by 3.239s over Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in second, who put on a great fight – briefly leading. The #11 secured his 11th podium in WorldSBK after a great start to the season, finishing ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in Race 2. Locatelli made his awaited return to the podium for the first time in 147 days – finishing third.
TURN 1 DRAMA: Key contenders crash on the opening lap
Once the lights went out, it was a great launch from Bulega, who stole the lead from Razgatlioglu at the start as Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) jumped the start and was later handed a double Long Lap. Meanwhile, there was drama at Turn 1 for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), with the #1 involved in an incident with Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) – ending their races. Bulega led the opening laps with Razgatlioglu hot on his tail as Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) carved into the podium places.
Razgatlioglu hit the front on Lap 5, beginning to extend his lead to the #11 instantly on Lap 6. There were battles throughout the field with Locatelli soon finding his way through Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) for fourth position. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) began to battle for the final spots inside the top 10 as teammate Locatelli was now fighting with van der Mark, entering the podium places with nine laps remaining as Gardner set his sights on the #60.
FINAL LAP: Razgatlioglu P1 as Bassani falls late
On the last lap, Razgatlioglu had a three-second advantage from Bulega in second, storming to victory after a mistake-free finale. The #54 won by 3.239s at the line, adding to his confidence as Bulega and Locatelli completed the podium. However, there was drama on the final lap with Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) crashing out at Turn 17.
LATE PACE: Rea and Rinaldi complete a strong Race 2
Gardner crossed the line in fourth, securing a strong end to the weekend after the Australian pulled off a fantastic overtake on van der Mark with three laps remaining. The #60 secured the final spot inside the top five to finish ahead of Rea, who had brilliant pace at the end of Race 2, charging through the field. Rea made a late move on Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), who completed a strong end to the weekend, claiming his best result of the season after finishing as the top independent rider in seventh. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) would recover to eighth after dropping to 18th in the opening stages after the Lap 1 drama. Meanwhile, the final positions inside the top 10 went the way of Alex Lowes and Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), who received a three-second penalty for a shortcut.
TOP 15: Ray takes the final point
Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) took P11, missing out on a spot inside the top 10 but would finish a mere 0.743s ahead of Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW. Gerloff was the top Bonovo Action rider after finishing in front of Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW), with the British rider crossing the line in 13th. The final point-scoring positions would go the way of Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Tito Rabat and Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team).
The top six from WorldSBK Race 2:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.239
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +5.462s
4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +6.569s
5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +8.529s
6. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +12.577s
Fastest lap: Michael van der Mark, BMW – 1’32.100s
Championship standings:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 303 puntos
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 239
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 199
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 179
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 145
6. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 115
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