The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign continues with the paddock heading to the stunning Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for a weekend that is sure to be a rollercoaster. With the extra challenge for an evening schedule as the sun begins to set over the Algarve coast, the Pirelli Portuguese Round could be the circuit where more history is made, or could there be big title race twists at the tricky, undulating venue?

GOING FOR 12: Razgatlioglu closes in on WorldSBK history

The big story heading into Portimao is the possibility of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) making more history. With 10 consecutive wins to his name, he’s only one behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) for the record winning streak and comes into Portimao full of confidence following a hat-trick of hat-tricks. Famous for jumping into Turn 9 in recent years, will ‘El Turco’ leap ahead of the pair by winning Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race to make it 12 wins in a row and an all-time winning streak? Bautista will be hoping he can bounce back from his point-less Sunday at Most at a circuit he’s won the last four races at, while Portimao is a circuit Rea holds several records: most wins (13), podiums (25) and poles (6). Both will be hoping they can get back to winning ways at a circuit they’ve enjoyed so much success at.

THE CHASING PACK: Bulega, van der Mark, Petrucci, Iannone and more in contention?

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is Razgatlioglu’s closest challenger in the title race, sitting 64 points behind the Turkish star. It’s Bulega’s first time in WorldSBK at Portimao, but he was successful in WorldSSP at the Portuguese venue, winning Race 1 in 2023 and finishing second in Race 2. Michael van der Mark’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) last win came at Portimao in a mixed-conditions Tissot Superpole Race in 2021 and he’ll be hoping he can be back on the podium this time around. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) secured a P6 in Race 2 last year, while it’ll be Andrea Iannone’s (Team GoEleven) first time at Portimao in racing conditions, although he was fairly quick in a pre-season test in January during his first time at the circuit. Of course, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) has been on the podium at Portimao before, third in Race 2 in 2021 and last year’s Superpole Race, as has Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) with third in Race 2 last year, while Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) has enjoyed a huge amount of Moto2™ success. The Australian has three podiums in three races from Moto2™, including two wins. The #87 will be looking to break into the top six in the overall standings after a consistent first half of 2024.

A STRONG ROUND COMING UP? Plenty to look forward to in Portugal

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) continued his run of securing a podium in every round bar the Catalunya Round at Most despite a difficult Race 2, and he’ll be looking to extend his form into Portimao, a circuit he took a podium at back in 2019 for Yamaha. Teammate Axel Bassani seems to be finding his feet on the ZX-10RR and, at a circuit he has a best result of fourth at, will be hoping to continue making progress. At Honda, they’ve had lots of success courtesy of Rea in the past but, in recent seasons, it’s been more limited. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) has a best result of fifth at Portimao, while teammate Xavi Vierge’s best is P8 from 2022 and the pair will be hoping Portugal treats them well after a challenging season so far. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) is a WorldSSP race winner at Portimao while both Bonovo Action BMW riders – Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff – have enjoyed success there, with the #45 on the podium when with Ducati and the #31 securing a pair of P4s last year – BMW’s best round of the 2023 season.

A TIME TO PUSH ON: can Portimao be a turning point?

So far, 2024 has been difficult for Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) and Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and both will be hoping it can bring them good fortune. Oettl has been a top ten finisher in WorldSBK at Portimao in 2023 when on the GoEleven Ducati, while Ray will be looking to kick on in the second half of the year. It’s a similar story for Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) as the Spaniard aims for points on his ZX-10RR at a circuit he scored at in 2021 for Puccetti Kawasaki, although he couldn’t add to that total last year.

RIDER LINE-UP NEWS: Syahrin returns as a wildcard, fitness checks to be passed

Both Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) and teammate Adam Norrodin are scheduled to be at Portimao, although both will need to pass Thursday fitness checks after they missed the Czech Round after crashes at Donington. Likewise, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) will need to undergo a medical check after his Most crash left him with a broken collarbone. For wildcards, Hafizh Syahrin returns to WorldSBK with his team, JDT Racing Team, getting a wildcard for the Portuguese Round, marking his first start in the Championship since Jerez Race 2 last year.

Watch the highlights show from Most HERE, read the Official Programme for the Portuguese Round HERE, check out the new Portimao schedule HERE and watch everything from Portimao using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship hits the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve and it’s going to be an epic Pirelli Portuguese Round with an all-new evening schedule. Action starts at 11:00 Local Time (UTC+1) on Friday with WorldWCR Free Practice, followed by WorldSSP300 at 11:40, WorldSSP at 12:00 and WorldSBK Free Practice 1 at 13:15. Three Tissot Superpole sessions start at 15:25, with WorldSSP300 ay 16:10, WorldSSP at 16:55. WorldSBK FP2 is the final session at 18:00. On Saturday, Warm Up action starts the day at 11:00 before WorldSBK FP3 at 12:10. Racing starts at 13:45 with WorldWCR Race 1, before WorldSBK Tissot Superpole at 14:45. Three more races round out the day, with WorldSSP300 Race 1 at 15:30, WorldSSP Race 1 at 16:30 and WorldSBK Race 1 at 18:00. Likewise on Sunday, the four Warm Up sessions begin from 11:00 before diving straight into races. WorldWCR Race 2 is at 13:45 followed by the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race at 14:45. WorldSSP300 Race 2 is at 15:30, WorldSSP Race 2 at 16:30 and WorldSBK Race 2 concludes the weekend at 18:00.

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Friday, 9^th August (All times Local Time, UTC+1)

11:00-11:25 – WorldWCR Free Practice

11:40-12:05 – WorldSSP300 Free Practice

12:20-13:00 – WorldSSP Free Practice

13:15-14:00 – WorldSBK Free Practice 1

15:25-15:50 – WorldWCR Tissot Superpole

16:10-16:35 – WorldSSP300 Tissot Superpole

16:55-17:35 – WorldSSP Tissot Superpole

18:00-18:45 – WorldSBK Free Practice 2

Saturday, 10^th August

11:00-11:10 – WorldWCR Warm Up

11:20-11:30 – WorldSSP300 Warm Up

11:40-11:50 – WorldSSP Warm Up

12:10-12:30 – WorldSBK Free Practice 3

13:45 – WorldWCR Race 1 (11 laps)

14:45-15:00 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole

15:30 – WorldSSP300 Race 1 (11 laps)

16:30 – WorldSSP Race 1 (17 laps)

18:00 – WorldSBK Race 1 (20 laps)

Sunday, 11^th August

11:00-11:10 – WorldWCR Warm Up

11:20-11:30 – WorldSSP300 Warm Up

11:40-11:50 – WorldSSP Warm Up

12:00-12:10 – WorldSBK Warm Up

13:45 – WorldWCR Race 2 (11 laps)

14:45 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race (10 laps)

15:30 – WorldSSP300 Race 2 (11 laps)

16:30 – WorldSSP Race 2 (17 laps)

18:00 – WorldSBK Race 2 (20 laps)

Source: WorldSBK.com

Whilst there’s been a small break between the first and the second half of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season, there have been an abundance of stories. Whilst there are always big topics to follow, we’ve put the biggest trends and patterns together from the first half of 2024. From surprises, disappointments, success and everything else, get the main learnings below.

TOPRAK CHAMPIONSHIP FAVOURITE: ten on the spin and 64 points clear

12 wins in 2024 from 18 races, he’s only one away from his own record of wins within one season and we’ve got half of the year to go. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is in a league of his own as he continues to do the unthinkable. Three triples on the bounce, only Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has managed that in his career – back in 2019’s first three rounds and also in 2023 from Assen to Misano. For Razgatlioglu, it’s ten wins with BMW that perhaps is the surprise, with even those within the team not able to comprehend, nor believe, what’s quite happening. The celebrations have ranged from speeding tickets to technical inspections, big wheelies to backgammon. It’s not a question of what could the next celebration be; it’s what will it be? With 12 wins in total, he’s got more wins in 18 races than reigning Champion Bautista’s has podiums. That’s why there’s 104 points between them and why Razgatlioglu is the title favourite going into the second half of the season.

BULEGA VS BAUTISTA: do Ducati have a new favoured son?

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has cemented himself as the best performing Ducati rider over teammate Bautista in recent rounds, with exactly 40 points between them. The reigning WorldSSP Champion has ten P2 finishes to his name and a win from the first round of the season, whilst Bautista has two wins, two P2s and six P3s but is with just one podium in six compared to Bulega who has four in the same period. At Most, we saw the first clash between the two. Attempting a pass, the #1 couldn’t make the Turn 1 apex on the last lap of the Superpole Race, forcing teammate Bulega into the gravel as Bautista fell. Both were calm and measured when speaking about it but for Bautista, a double DNF on Sunday has given him a mountain to climb for the title – something that despite being not appreciating being asked about it whilst in the box in Race 2, he is now longer thinking about since a few rounds ago.

REA’S 8 STRAIGHT TOP TEN FINISHES: light at the end of the tunnel for #65 but how long is the tunnel?

Six rounds into 2024 and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) hasn’t won a race – perhaps a surprise when we all thought how magical the new chapter could be. However, amongst the difficulties – and there’s been some big ones – moments to remember. Pole at Assen, a first podium of the year at Donington Park and what seemed like something of a breakthrough on Friday at Most, back in the top three in Free Practice. The six-time World Champion has had strong late race pace, particularly in Race 2 at Most when he was the fastest rider in the field in the last five laps but it’s the early part of the race – and Superpole – which cost him. Still, in the last eight races, he’s been inside the top ten and is thus in the top ten overall. 40 behind the top six – currently held by Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) – it’s a big second half of 2024 for the most successful rider in WorldSBK history. 

LOWES CONTINUES STRENGTH: closing in on the top three in the world

Closing down Alvaro Bautista for third in the Championship, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) perhaps didn’t capitalise on the Spaniard’s misfortune at Most but he’s one point closer to P3 overall in the standings. The #22 has been riding well – perhaps the best we’ve ever seen of him – in 2024 with five podiums in the last 11 races and a myriad of top five finishes. The Phillip Island double race winner has been working with new crew chief Pere Riba for this year, with the ex-racer helping Lowes manage race situations better whilst also giving him the confidence. 20 points behind Bautista, it’s a story to follow as the rest of 2024 unravels. 

TIGHT WITHIN THE REST OF TOP TEN: podiums galore as Locatelli leads the charge for the top four

After 147 days, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) returned to the podium in Race 2 at Most, whilst behind him in the standings, ‘The Maniac’ Andrea Iannone was likewise back on the rostrum with a determined Race 1 effort. He was beaten by Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) for P2, with ‘Petrux’ enjoying a phenomenal injury return with a joint-best career result. He’s eighth in the standings, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) splitting the Italian pair, whereas Michael van der Mark’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) fifth place in Race 2 saw him close right up on the fight for sixth overall, with just 19 points separating Iannone in P6 and van der Mark in P9, with Rea 10^th.

OVERALL ROUND-UP: some facts and stats you DIDN’T expect to hear in the first half of 2024

Instead of writing something lengthy to sign off, we’ll leave you with some pretty wild facts from the first six rounds of the year that, when you put them bluntly, are quite astonishing: 

–        Toprak Razgatlioglu has won 12 races, 10 in a row and leads the Championship by 64 points

–        Nicolo Bulega has more podiums than Alvaro Bautista

–        Alex Lowes is 20 points behind Alvaro Bautista in the standings

–        Michael Ruben Rinaldi hasn’t achieved a podium yet

–        Nicholas Spinelli has won a race, Jonathan Rea hasn’t

–        BMW lead the manufacturers’ Championship

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Multiple race wins and a regular podium challenger in 2024, the Ducati Panigale V4 R is a bike you must see up close. And now you can thanks to the incredible tech gallery in this article, giving you a chance to check out the intricacies of the Bologna-based manufacturer’s machine which is competing in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. With double Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and rookie teammate Nicolo Bulega at the factory team, don’t miss out on the stunning photos at the top of this page.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has 51 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship victories in his career and has won the last 10 races in a row. ‘El Turco’ is arguably in the form of his life right now so we’ve had a look back through his career to discuss some of the best wins of his career, ranging from hard-fought battles, fighting bike issues and wiping the floor with his rivals.

10 LAPS, FROM 16^TH TO 1^ST: Magny-Cours Superpole Race, 2019

Having taken his first WorldSBK win the day before from 16^th in Race 1 with a very impressive performance, Razgatlioglu – then at Kawasaki Puccetti Racing – repeated that on Sunday in the 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race. An incredible first lap meant the #54 was up to P8 by the end of Lap 1 and by the end of Lap 6, he was in second, behind only Jonathan Rea. He got ahead of the #65 on Lap 7 to move into first place and claim a second win in as many days from a lowly 16^th on the grid.

AYRTON SENNA-LIKE START: Donington Park Race 1, 2021

Wet weather impacted the Tissot Superpole session, and this left Razgatlioglu languishing down in 13^th on the grid. A stunning start, reminiscent of F1 legend Ayrton Senna in 1993, meant he went from the fifth row to second on the opening lap, carving his way through the field, before setting his sights on Rea ahead. On Lap 2 at the right-hander of Coppice, the 2021 Champion made his way past his rival and would go on to lead every lap after he moved into P1.

HIS BIGGEST WINNING MARGIN: Donington Park Race 1, 2024

Donington Park is Razgatlioglu’s self-described favourite track, and you can see why with his record: nine wins and 14 podiums. It showed this year when he won by 11.384s ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in Race 1, the first dry weather winning margin of over 10 seconds since Aragon 2019. Aside from FP3, when Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) topped the session, ‘El Turco’ was unbeatable during this year’s UK Round.

A TYRE STRATEGY MASTERCLASS: Barcelona Race 1, 2024

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is always tough on tyres and this year was no different. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had around a four second margin in hand over Razgatlioglu entering the final few laps, but the BMW rider had managed his race to perfection to bring the gap down. On the final lap, Razgatlioglu passes the WorldSBK rookie to claim his first win with BMW.

EMULATING VALENTINO ROSSI: Barcelona Superpole Race, 2024

While Race 1 was about managing the tyres, the Tissot Superpole Race was an all-out attack. Three riders were in contention for victory with Razgatlioglu, Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) the lead trio. Bautista was leading through the final corner, but the Turkish star made an audacious move at the final corner, similar to Valentino Rossi on Jorge Lorenzo, to make it two wins at this year’s Catalunya Round.

PENULTIMATE CORNER OVERTAKE: Most Race 1, 2021

The Autodrom Most made its WorldSBK debut in 2021 and it delivered immediately, with a last-lap battle between Scott Redding and Razgatlioglu. The #45 was ahead going into the final sector, with just two corners remaining, but Razgatlioglu was on the hunt for victory. On the approach to Turn 20, the Turkish star, then riding a Yamaha, darted to the inside and got ahead of Redding’s Ducati before holding on for the win after a drag race to the line.

FIRST YAMAHA VICTORY: Phillip Island Race 1, 2020

Razgatlioglu’s heroics on the Independent Kawasaki machine he had since 2018 had helped earn him a factory seat at Yamaha for 2020, and they didn’t have to wait long to taste success. In a typical Phillip Island thriller to start the season, Yamaha’s new recruit mastered his strategy to lead home a four-way battle that included himself, Alex Lowes, Redding and Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who was the #54’s teammate in 2020. 

PORTIMAO SHOWDOWN VS BAUTISTA: Portimao Superpole Race, 2022

Razgatlioglu went into 2022 as the reigning Champion and the Portuguese Round turned into outgoing vs incoming Champion. Razgatlioglu went head-to-head with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at the rollercoaster venue in 2022, with only a tenth separating the pair across the line. It followed on from their epic Race 1 scrap the day before, with Razgatlioglu coming out on top by a comparatively large six tenths.

AGAINST BAUTISTA WITH NO ELECTRONICS: Imola Superpole Race, 2023

The return of Imola to WorldSBK’s calendar gave us an epic showdown between Razgatlioglu and Bautista once again, with the then Yamaha rider up against Bautista, the passionate Ducatisti from the stands and an electronics issue on his bike. Despite lacking traction control, the 51-time race winner was able to hold off Bautista to claim a hard-fought victory.

CLOSING IN ON HISTORY: Most Race 2, 2024

Razgatlioglu’s move to BMW caused shockwaves but, halfway through his first season on the M 1000 RR, it looks to be paying off. Race 2 at Most, a race he led all but four laps of, was his 12^th win of the season and his tenth consecutive. It’s the second-longest streak in WorldSBK history and he has the chance to equal Rea and Bautista’s record of 11 next time out, and even break it.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

With two rounds done in the 2024 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, patterns are starting to form as we get a true indicator of who we can expect to be at the sharp end in this inaugural season. One rider who had a spectacular UK Round was Ran Yochay (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team), with a double top six finish and a first top five in Race 2. We caught up with the 21-year-old Israeli, to get to know her path to the World Championship a little bit better and to see what her aims are. 

EARLY STEPS AND BEING A ROLE MODEL: “I started riding by accident!”

Looking back at where the journey all began, Yochay said: “I started riding by accident really; I got a small bike with stabilisers, did a few laps and a fell in love with the feeling of the bike. About a week later, my dad already got a bike for me. He was so excited about the fact that I loved it so it was a dream come true for both of us. He was racing way before I was born in rally cars, both as a driver and a navigator/co-driver. Israel doesn’t have a big history in motorsport, it’s really in the beginning. It’s been really big journey to go out of my country and learn things and how they work here. It’s been difficult because I haven’t had a role model; I’m proud to represent my country in this World Championship.”

However, in terms of competition, it was motocross and enduro that got her attention before her dad opened Israel’s first asphalt race circuit: “I started my career in motocross and I was racing there until I was 15, both in enduro and motocross. My dad opened a race track in Israel, an asphalt circuit. That was my first time trying a road bike and I was starting to get interested also on the roads.”

FIRST EMOTIONS AND SETTING TARGETS: “It’s a dream come true; I would like to reach the podium”

Reliving the feeling of receiving the confirmation that she’d be on the WorldWCR grid in 2024, the emotions were happy ones: “When I got the message from WorldSBK that I was in WorldWCR and that I was in the official list, it was just incredible. I got the email and I couldn’t believe it; it’s a dream come true. Of course, I would like to reach the podium and maybe keep myself in the top five but the top ten, by the end of the season, would be a really good result.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

A third consecutive triple by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) now sees the 2021 World Champion with a round in hand over his nearest rivals in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Ten wins in a row have set him as the benchmark in WorldSBK right now, as well as BMW, who lead the Manufacturers’ Championship for the first time in 12 years. We caught up with the manufacturer’s technical director, Chris Gonschor, about the latest achievement as well as looking to Portimao.

Starting with the biggest picture, Gonschor stated of his enjoyment in seeing BMW succeed: “These are definitely good times! Ten wins in a row is a big success so thanks to everyone involved in Munich and all our engineers and suppliers. Seeing Michael fighting for the podium in Race 2 and finishing in a very good position like Scott managed at Donington Park proves that the potential of the bike is there. It’s generally one rider making a difference which is obvious but at the end, all the others are closing up. We’re learning as an engineering group too, about how to improve the bike; we’re getting closer to where we want to be which means having more BMWs on the front rows and podiums. This is the biggest target for the upcoming round.”

When asked if he would’ve believed the success if someone would have told it would happen 12 months ago, he could barely believe it: “It sounds like a dream! It couldn’t have been expected! It was clear from the winter that we could fight for the win but fighting for the win and winning are different things; winning ten in a row… nobody would’ve said that was clearly going to happen. It was clear that we went in the right direction but our competitors will fight back – Nicolo is doing an amazing job in his rookie season and it’s really impressive what he gets out of the bike already. It will be tough at the end of the year.”

Another one of those “special” weekends for BMW, this time with the added bonus of sharing the moment with family: “It was definitely special but every weekend is special; Misano was special, Barcelona too, here was special for the fact that so many BMW employees and friends from the whole crew were here. It’s the closest circuit we visit to the Munich headquarters, so it was kind of a home round. I hope they all enjoyed and also the fans too; it’s good to see more and more BMW flags flying. Finally, for me, having the family attend once in the year did make it even a little bit better.”

Two more wins and Toprak sets a new record for consecutive WorldSBK victories, something Gonschor hasn’t looked at: “We’re not clearly looking at records, we’re just looking at the next races. We are in a good reference where we can start. Last year, Garrett Gerloff rode very well and we hope to repeat it. It would be nice to see Scott, Mikey, Garrett and Toprak fighting for the podium. In which combination, I don’t care! As long as it’s a BMW! I’m always happy when a BMW wins!”

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Source: WorldSBK.com