Razgatlioglu Beats Bulega in New Superpole Thriller

WorldSBK Estoril 2025: Razgatlioglu Dominates Superpole Race, Closes in on Championship!

Toprak Razgatlioglu has once again stamped his authority on the 2025 WorldSBK Championship, taking a commanding victory in the Superpole Race at Circuito Estoril. The 10-lap sprint was a tense affair at the penultimate round, with the reigning champion fending off his closest title rival to claim his 21st win of the season and solidify his lead in the World Superbike Riders’ Standings.

The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider, often referred to as ‘El Turco,’ showcased his blistering pace to hold off a relentless attack from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), delivering a crucial psychological blow ahead of the final main race of the weekend.

2025 Estoril WorldSBK Superpole Race: Official Results (Top 10)

Race Analysis & Key Moments

The short, intense 10-lap sprint race was critical for establishing the grid for the final Race 2, with the top nine securing the best starting positions.

• Early Ducati Challenge: Bulega, starting from the front row, immediately took the holeshot, momentarily pushing Razgatlioglu back. However, ‘El Turco’ was quick to recover, slicing past Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) on the first lap before taking the lead from Bulega on Lap 2.
• The Title Duel: The main focus remained the battle for the top spot. While Bulega managed to close the gap in the middle of the race, putting the pressure on the BMW M 1000 RR, Razgatlioglu successfully controlled the pace to cross the line just over half a second ahead, securing maximum points and extending his WorldSBK lead.
• Bautista Secures the Podium: Reigning champion Álvaro Bautista held firm in third, despite constant pressure from the pursuing pack. His third-place finish ensured both factory Ducati bikes made the podium and, crucially, secured him a front-row start for Race 2.
• Drama in the Mid-Pack: The fight for the final top-nine grid slots was fierce. Jonathan Rea’s hopes for a strong Race 2 grid position ended with a crash on Lap 7. Meanwhile, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Andrea Iannone (Team Go Eleven) were locked in a spectacular battle for fourth, with Locatelli narrowly beating Iannone. Alex Lowes also crashed out of a top-five position on the final lap.
• New Lap Record: Despite finishing second, Nicolo Bulega set the Fastest Lap of the race with a scorching 1:34.973s, highlighting the sheer speed of the Ducati at Estoril.

The title fight moves to a climax in Race 2 with Razgatlioglu now holding a significant advantage. Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion of the Estoril WorldSBK round!

Source

Official WorldSBK Report (Primary Source): https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2025/DOUBLING+UP+Razgatlioglu+claims+Superpole+Race+honours+ahead+of+Bulega+Bautista+resists+challenges+for+P3

BikeSport News Full Results: https://bikesportnews.com/world-superbikes/estoril-worldsbk-superpole-race-results-toprak-razgatlioglu-secured-his-second-win-of-the-weekend/

WorldSBK General Results/Statistics Page (for PDF links/archived results): https://www.worldsbk.com/en/results%20statistics

News Article with Winner Quotes: https://bikesportnews.com/world-superbikes/i-am-ready-to-fight-again-toprak-razgatlioglu-set-his-sights-on-an-estoril-hat-trick-after-winning-the-superpole-race/

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