The MOTUL FIM SUPERBIKE World Championship returned for further drama at the Autodrom Most, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) storming to victory as he continues to add his name to the history books. The #54 would convert pole position into his 10th victory of the season with BMW.
PERFECTION: No mistakes from Toprak
Razgatlioglu continued his domination at the Czech Round, finishing first in every session so far and winning Race 1 by an unbelievable 5.740s ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). The Italian took P2 at the line to claim a heroic podium after a tough start to 2024. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) rounded out the podium after he put the #9 under pressure on the final lap.
RACE START: The battle for the podium begins
Once the lights went out it was a perfect launch from Razgatlioglu, who led the field as 23 riders roared down to Turn 1. Further back, it was a phenomenal opening lap for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), charging to fifth after losing his left winglet. The #1 would enter a great battle in the opening stages with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) soon overtaking Bautista. Meanwhile, it was a tough start for Jonathan Rea, with the six-time Champion unable to enter point-scoring positions in the opening laps with work to do.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) would soon enter the podium positions, before Petrucci responded, entering third and then second. The #11 began to lose some momentum, dropping back to fourth as Gardner and Bautista began to close in. Alex Lowes would also begin to close the gap to Bulega before the #22 lost the front and crashed out on the exit of Turn 2. Meanwhile, Razgatlioglu continued to lead, setting the fastest lap in the process.
PETRUCCI VS IANNONE: Last lap pressure
It was a tense final lap battle, as Razgatlioglu maintained his lead, leaving the battle for the final spot on the podium undecided. After defending the entire lap, it was Petrucci, who claimed second after defending from the #29. Just 0.141s separated Petrucci and Iannone at the line, in a tense finale to Race 1.
COMEBACK: Bautista charges from P10 to P5
Taking fourth position after narrowly missing out on a podium was Bautista, who battled from 10th on the grid after receiving a three-place grid penalty in Superpole. The Spaniard finished ahead of Gardner, who took the final spot inside the all-important top five positions. The Australian was the top Yamaha in Race 1, crossing the line to finish in front of Bulega in sixth position. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was seventh ahead of Bonovo Action BMW’s Garrett Gerloff in P8. Meanwhile, the final spots inside the top ten went the way of Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Rea, after a strong end to his race.
POINTS: Rinaldi misses out on top 10
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was less than two seconds adrift from Rea, finishing 11th place, ahead of ELF Marc VDS Racing Team’s Sam Lowes in 12th. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took 13th, with the final points going the way of Team HRC’s Xavi Vierge and Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW). Further back, Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) would have an early end to Race 1, retiring to the pitlane.
The top six from WorldSBK Race 1:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +5.740s
3. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +5.881s
4. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +9.217s
5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +11.622s
6. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +13.841s
Fastest Lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW – 1’31.540s
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