After a stunning round in Portugal, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads to France and the historic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for Round 8 of the season next. The Motul French Round is a must-visit for fans with plenty of action and excitement to come, and we’ve detailed 10 reasons why you have to go this year – get your tickets HERE.

THE ON-TRACK ACTION: as fierce as ever

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) might be on a record-breaking winning streak, but he’s been made to work hard for his wins. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and teammate Nicolo Bulega all fought for victory at Portimao, so expect more of the same in France.

HISTORY CONTINUES TO BE MADE: Razgatlioglu’s streak continues

Razgatlioglu made it 13 wins in a row last time out, an all-time streak in WorldSBK. He’ll face stiff competition in France, but Magny-Cours is a circuit he loves and has a superb record at. It was the scene of his first wins, but it will also be his first time there with BMW.

SHOCKS AND SURPRISES: an upset on the cards?

In recent years, Magny-Cours has provided several surprises. Who could forget Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) claiming a stunning pole last year, or when Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Bautista came to blows in 2022? And, as mentioned, when Razgatlioglu won from 16^th on the grid… twice! What shocks will there be in 2024?

THE WORLD SUPERSPORT TITLE FIGHT: just 20 points in it

After Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) took six consecutive wins, it started to look like he’d started putting one hand on the trophy. That all changed at Portimao with his Race 2 tumble and, while he finished 12^th in a damage limitation ride, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) did the double to close the gap to just 20 points…

THE PADDOCK SHOW: podium celebrations all round

The Paddock Show takes place in the heart of the WorldSBK paddock and allows fans to get close to the jubilation of victory with the podium celebrations, with the chance a rider could run off the stage and spray you with Prosecco…

A 10 POINT MARGIN: WorldSSP300 Champion battle ignites…

Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) had been the star of WorldSSP300 in 2024 but Portimao had a huge twist. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) moved into the Championship lead thanks to his double podium, while Iglesias scored no points. 10 points separate the top two, with Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) in third and just a point behind Iglesias.

THE TOWN OF NEVERS: a quiet place but plenty of history

Magny-Cours is situated a few hours south of Paris, but there’s also things to do in the nearby town of Nevers. There’s architecture from centuries gone by as well as the French landscape to admire, with Nevers a small, quaint town to enjoy away from the track.

OFF-TRACK ENTERTAINMENT: plenty to do at the Paddock Show

As well as hosting the podium celebrations, the Paddock Show is your chance to take part in interactive activities or be close to the stage for meet and greet sessions with riders from WorldSBK, WorldSSP and WorldSSP300.

THE WEATHER CAN PLAY HAVOC: pack for all seasons

Now with a September date, there’s less chance of rain impacting the weekend, but there’s still a chance. As they say in motorsport, rain is the great leveller so if it does rain, prepare for an on-track surprise or two; even if it does stay dry, there’s a chance of a shock too.

OVERTAKING CHANCES GALORE: action guaranteed…

Magny-Cours has plenty of overtaking opportunities, from the Turn 5 Adelaide hairpin to the Nurburgring and Imola chicanes, plus the 180-degree Turn 9. Turn 1 can be used with a good run out of the finale chicane, while expect passes at Chateaux d’Eau and the Lycee hairpin too.

Don’t miss out on Magny-Cours – get your tickets for the French Round HERE!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured a Sunday double rostrum at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, finishing third in both the Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2 after a thrilling day of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship action. The #22’s first podium of the day came after a last-lap fight with former teammate Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), with Lowes passing the Dutchman at an unusual place on the final lap, while the Race 2 rostrum came in a dramatic 20-lap battle for the WorldSBK field.

Lowes started the 10-lap Superpole Race from second place after a strong performance in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session, using it to full advantage to fight for the podium places throughout the race. Van der Mark got ahead of the Brit on the penultimate lap as he searched for a first podium in three years, but Lowes responded brilliantly on the final lap, getting alongside the #60 at Turn 8 with the pair running side-by-side over the hill and down into Turn 9 with Lowes emerging ahead of the BMW rider.

Discussing his battle with van der Mark, Lowes said: “I’m a big admirer of Michael, we were teammates for a few years at Yamaha. I respect him a lot as a rider. He’s had a difficult few years with the leg injuries he’s had so I’m happy to see him back, every week, fighting for the top six. I felt like he deserved the podium! It was close on the last lap. We had a lot of battles when we were teammates, so it was nice to be battling together and fighting for the podium together. Races like that are really enjoyable and well done to him; I’m sure he’s going to be strong for the rest of the year.”

In a feature interview ahead of the Pirelli Portuguese Round, Lowes declared that he was riding the best he’s ever ridden and he’s continued his fine form with two more podiums. He’s continued his record of taking a rostrum at every round this season except for the Catalunya Round, where he was in the top six in every race and is now just 10 points behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the Championship standings as he closes in on a top-three placement.

Looking back at Sunday’s success, Lowes stated: “I’m happy with our Sunday and to be back on the full-length podium again. It’s one of my better weekends of the year. It’s been enjoyable. We had to get used to a different schedule. Because the race was a bit more in the evening, the wind was really high and made the bike difficult to manage. It was really physical and easy to make a mistake. I used my experience well. I made a couple of small mistakes and lost the gap to the guys. I’m really enjoying riding the bike. I’m able to ride on the limit. I feel quite fast, there’s a great atmosphere in the team, we’re enjoying it all together. Already looking forward to Magny-Cours so a positive weekend.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It was a weekend of building for Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visited Portugal for Round 7 of the 2024 season. ‘The Maniac’ had never raced at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve until this weekend, although did have experience from a winter test, and he found performance with every day that passed during the Pirelli Portuguese Round, eventually finishing P4 in Race 2.

Iannone could only manage 15^th on the Race 1 grid after Tissot Superpole on Saturday, setting a 1’40.775s and finishing a second behind polesitter Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). In Race 1, the #29 had battled up to ninth before he crashed out at Turn 1, with Iannone forced to retire from the race despite making swift progress in the opening stages of the race.

Discussing the crash and his Sunday performance, Iannone said: “Race 1 was a stupid crash. I wasn’t pushing more, I entered with 2km/h more in the middle of the corner and I lost the front. The first corner here is difficult. I touched the bump. Day by day, I learnt the track more and this is important because it’s a really technical track. It’s not easy to have references here. It’s really difficult but, in any case, I’m happier with Race 2 than yesterday because I struggled at the start of the weekend.”

It was a stronger Sunday for the one-time MotoGP™ race winner, moving up to ninth in the Tissot Superpole Race which secured him a third-row start for the 20-lap Race 2 on Sunday evening. From there, he was able to stay towards the front and gain places. He eventually finished in fourth place, his best result in six races, since he was third in Race 1 at Most. It completed a remarkable turnaround for Iannone, who was 15^th in Friday’s combined times as well as the Superpole session on Saturday.

Reflecting on his comeback throughout Sunday’s two races, the Italian star added: “It wasn’t bad. We struggled to recover the positions because we started from 15^th on the Superpole Race grid but, in any case, we recovered a little bit. I started well in Race 2 and my pace for the whole race wasn’t bad. I was really close to the top riders in this moment, the top manufacturers and factory bikes. When we are close, it’s a good result for us. For sure, I want more. My target is a little bit more than this. We achieved a good result with the package we have.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned for one final throw of the dice at the Pirelli Portuguese Round in what set out to be a brilliant Race 2. Taking glory once again for his 13^th consecutive win was Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who crossed the line with just one front wing remaining at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.

0.035s: Closest finish of the season

Razgatlioglu took a 15^th win of the season, his best season so far in WorldSBK after defending from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who battled with the Turkish rider to the chequered flag. It was another race to celebrate for the Italian, who looked strong although missing out on victory by 0.035s. Bulega took a 12^th podium and finished ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), capping off a great weekend for the British rider – earning his ninth podium of the season.

THE START: Early work to do for Razgatlioglu

Once the lights went out it was Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) who briefly hit the front before the Italian was overtaken by the Razgatlioglu on the entry to Turn 3. The #9 soon dropped down to fourth as Lowes and Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) found their way through. Lowes put early pressure on the #54, who ran wide at Turn 5, allowing the lead to change. It soon turned into a four-way fight with van der Mark charging to P1 in an unforgettable show for the Portuguese fans. Lowes soon responded as he led with Razgatlioglu now in chase.

The move from the #54 came on the main straight, using the slipstream to pass and touching the back of Lowes’ machine and losing his left front wing. The Turkish star maintained his lead as Lowes ran wide and dropped behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to third. The gap was changing every sector with Bulega now being the rider on the move, entering the podium places. The key moment of Bautista’s race came with five laps remaining as the #1 and Razgatlioglu went head-to-head, with Bautista losing the front at Turn 5, leaving just Bulega to battle for the win.

BREATHTAKING: Razgatlioglu fends off Bulega

Heading onto the final lap it was an intense fight for victory, with Razgatlioglu defending every inch of the track. Bulega tried to stay as close as possible on the final lap, aiming to build towards a move. However, Razgatlioglu was able to hold onto victory, extending his all-time win streak after a miraculous ride with one front wing.

TOP INDEPENDENT: Iannone claims fourth

Holding onto fourth on Sunday was Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), taking his best finish of the weekend and taking the honours as the top independent rider in Race 2. The Italian was ahead of compatriot Petrucci, who was unable to find late-race pace, crossing the line to round out a competitive top five. Meanwhile, Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) took sixth, ending the weekend with a strong result after beating van der Mark late in the race. Garett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was eighth ahead of Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) who finished his best weekend of the season so far. While Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crossed the line behind Vierge, rounding out the top 10.

OUT OF THE POINTS: Bautista P19

Meanwhile, Bautista finished down in 19^th, scoring zero points in Race 2, with the Spaniard currently sitting in third in the standings, now 142 points behind Razgatlioglu at the head of the Championship. Bautista is now beginning to be put under pressure from Lowes, with the #22 just 10 points back.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)

2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.035

3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +6.299

4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +9.715

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +11.318

6. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +11.428

Fastest lap: Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) – 1’40.753

Championship standings

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 365 points

2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 273

3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 223

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 213

5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 155

6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 147

The next chapter of this enthralling 2024 WorldSBK season will take place in France, so make sure you tune in using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a rollercoaster weekend at the Pirelli Portuguese Round, from battling with an illness and bike issues on Friday to battling for victory on Sunday. The Italian had an intense duel with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in Race 2, with the #11 missing out on the glory by 0.035s as Razgatlioglu’s win streak continues.

It was a slow start to the weekend for the Italian, completing one lap in FP1, Bulega ended Friday fourth in the combined standings after a strong lap in FP2. The #11 was feeling under the weather throughout the day, but on Saturday would finish Superpole in fourth, earning a spot on the second row for Race 1 which he would convert to a seventh-place finish as teammate Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took second. Then on Sunday Bulega battled hard in the Superpole Race, taking the final spot inside the top five – ahead of Bautista.

Discussing his weekend as a whole, Bulega said: “It was a difficult weekend because I missed FP1 with a technical problem, also I started the weekend very sick, I was at 60%, I was very bad all the weekend so thanks to all the doctors that followed me all the weekend, to my team and to myself. It was one of the most difficult weekends of my life but in the end in Race 2 we got a good podium, almost victory so it was very nice.”

It was a sensational battle in Race 2, one that went down to the wire and saw Bulega claim second. The #11 had shown an incredible pace throughout, catching Razgatlioglu with four laps remaining and beginning to battle after Bautista crashed out. Consistently running inside the 1’41 bracket, he tried to line up a move at the final corner on the run to the line, settling for P2.

Speaking about his strategy in the closing laps, Bulega said: “I knew that Toprak was very fast but in the last laps I was not too much slower, so with two/three laps to go I saw the possibility of winning, so I tried to not lose too many meters from him and I knew that he was very difficult to overtake because he brakes very hard and the BMW is fast. I tried in the only put where I was faster, the last corner but it was too late but anyway I am happy.”

Now all attention turns to the next round of the 2024 WorldSBK Championship at the Motul French Round, where it is set to be fireworks as Razgatlioglu enters the weekend with the chance to win 16 consecutive races. However, rookie Bulega has great memories from the circuit and is ready to battle as we head to another technical circuit.

Looking towards the next round of the season, Bulega said: “Ready like always, it will be difficult because Magny-Cours is a technical track but I like it, last year In Supersport I won both races. But like always this year will be different, but I will try and do my best.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It was a dramatic weekend for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), starting the Pirelli Portuguese Round with a positive Friday to eventually battle for the victory on Sunday. However, Bautista would score no points in Race 2 after crashing out at Turn 5, while battling Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) for victory. Even though no points were scored in Race 2, the #1 remains positive after he believes a step was made.

After finishing Friday in P2, the Spaniard then entered Superpole, placing on the second row of the grid after finishing the session in sixth position. After earning a strong spot on the grid, things soon went downhill at the start of Race 1, dropping outside of the top 10 on the opening lap. This led to a thrilling race, as the reigning World Champion battled through the field to cross the line in second. On Sunday, Bautista struggled at the start of the Superpole Race, dropping down to ninth on Lap 1 before battling back to sixth after 10 laps. However, in Race 2 Bautista made a better launch, beginning to push early before soon entering the podium positions.

Speaking about the weekend overall, Bautista said: “It is strange because I feel good, I am happy because the feeling with the bike is coming back. Yesterday we had a good race, a good performance and this morning in the Superpole Race, we also had a very bad start and it was more difficult to recover the distance in 10 laps but I was second fastest on the track in the Superpole Race. In Race 2, the conditions were tricky because the wind was too strong, so you have to understand which corner is worse. I didn’t make a really good start but not as bad as yesterday, so I could recover positions soon and I understood how the wind affected the track.”

In the closing laps, Bautista began to reign in Razgatlioglu, who had suffered damage earlier in Race 2 after contact with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). However, the #1 began to battle for the lead with Razgatlioglu before everything unfolded at Turn 5 as Bautista lost the front – tumbling down the order. This mistake cost Bautista vital points in the Championship as he crossed the line in P19 on Sunday.

Bautista discussed the intense battle with Toprak in Race 2: “The feeling on the bike was good, I could catch Toprak and it was the first time basically this season that I could do it, so I felt strong. In that moment maybe I felt that I could relax some laps and then attack but it has been a long time since I have fought for victory and I wanted to make a show and to try and play a little bit and have some fun with Toprak. Then unfortunately at Turn 5 he passed me and went a bit wide, I tried to close the lines and then I lost the front. It was a pity because the performance was really good, I felt really strong and for that, I say that I feel good because I can start to ride the bike how I want.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) broke a MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship record on Sunday at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Victory in the Tissot Superpole Race gave him his 12^th consecutive victory in a row, breaking the existing record of 11. Race 2 welcomed a tenacious fight with just one wing but the #54 fended off the opposition, making it a Sunday to remember.

THE RECORD-BREAKING RACE: pole, fought back, victory

Razgatlioglu started from pole position in the 10-lap Superpole Race but, as in Saturday’s Race 1, dropped back to third, behind Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and early leader Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). That lasted only a lap though as, at Turn 1 on Lap 2, ‘El Turco’ passed both Lowes and Petrucci to claim the lead and from there, he pulled a gap over his rivals to claim his 12^th consecutive victory. As ever with Razgatlioglu, there was a unique celebration as he took inspiration from Turkish Olympian Yusuf Dikec whilst it was all about acing the opposition at cards in Race 2.

RAZGATLIOGLU REFLECTS: “It’s been an incredible weekend!”

Discussing his record-breaking day, Razgatlioglu said: “It’s been an incredible weekend; we broke the record and now have 13 wins in a row. I have 54 wins in total and I’m really happy. In the last race, I was fighting with Nicolo and Alvaro but in general, I’m really happy. It’s very special because every day, we are becoming more like a legend! I feel like we’re a family in WorldSBK and with the BMW, we are at the level to win every weekend. I don’t know when this streak will finish but the feeling is good and I’m just trying to push for the win. It’ll be the first time riding at Magny-Cours with the BMW so let’s see.”

RACE 2: it’s all about win(g)s

Victory in the Superpole Race gave Razgatlioglu P1 on the grid for Sunday evening’s Race 2. He made a brilliant start and whilst he was eventually pushed back to P4, he did make his way back through – albeit not without drama. A collision with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) on the start and finish straight saw a wing fly off the BMW M 1000 RR. This led to Ducati duo Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and teammate Nicolo Bulega closing him down and they traded places, before Bautista crashed at Turn 5. Bulega was strong exiting the final corner with the vulnerability of the BMW clear with just one wing but hard braking into Turn 1 kept Toprak ahead to ultimately extend his winning streak to 13.

DIGGING IN: “In the last corner, I was losing almost 0.5s… I needed to give more than 100%”

Whilst you may be able to take a wing, you can’t take a win from Toprak, who discussed the incident: “On the straight, I don’t understand how I hit Alex but the wing broke on the left. After, the bike wasn’t turning, especially in the last sector and in the last corner, I was losing almost 0.5s. The Ducati is very strong there and I was really fighting in the last four or five laps, starting with Alvaro and then Nicolo. In the last lap, I needed to give more than 100% before the final sector so I made a plan and it worked. It’s been an incredible job this weekend and the feeling is unbelievable. I’m not focused on the Championship, only winning. It looks like we’re flying but now, I’m looking at Magny-Cours. It’s one of my favourite circuits but whether or not I’m good there with the BMW, I don’t know.”

THE TEAM SAYS: “A magnificent race to watch”

Immediately after the Superpole Race, amidst all the celebrations, Team Principal Shaun Muir discussed the record, saying: “It’s record breaking! As much as I’m happy for Toprak, that was unbelievable, what a race it was by Mickey. I’m so happy for everybody. It goes without saying. Record breaking! I actually feel a little bit of pressure relived from Toprak now, he could get a bit quicker; didn’t think I’d say that! Unbelievable. What a performance, from the beginning of the year to where we are now. It’s been unavailable.  Marc’s just as happy as me. It’s been a great join effort. It’s been a mega from everyone.”

Then, at the close of Race 2, Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Sporting Director, commented on an epic close to the Pirelli Portuguese Round: “It scared me when the wing came off, it could have hit one of the others too! What a battle, what a race; it’s his 54^th win and it means a lot to Toprak! A magnificent race to watch and the conditions were so difficult. It caused me a couple of heart attacks when Bautista crashed, he could’ve taken him out but it was great racing and I’m glad to win again! Toprak had the target to win today but a fantastic ride by both Ducatis, with Bulega not being very well this weekend. We’ll enjoy this one.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The FIM Supersport World Championship provided exciting action for Race 2 at the Pirelli Portuguese Round after Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed top honours after a sensational ride from the Italian, which saw him secure a fifth victory. The #55 was flawless, taking a 15^th podium in the process as title rival Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) only scored four points in Race 2 at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.

DOUBLE VICTORY: Montella wins as Debise completes the podium

It was a massive race in terms of the Championship, with Montella claiming victory over Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), who finished 5.897s behind as the #62 took another podium finish. Manzi had another strong result on the Yamaha, with the Japanese manufacturer claiming their 250^th podium as Manzi crossed the line ahead of Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) in third.

BATTLE BEGINS: Montella vs Huertas

Montella made a carbon copy start in Race 2, launching to the lead in the opening stages. However, the Italian did not have it easy as he was chased by Huertas, who was aiming for redemption on Sunday at Portimao. The leading duo were locked together on track, with further action beginning as Huertas took the lead with 11 laps to go. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) made a strong start to Race 2, riding hard in third before everything unfolded for the #9, crashing at Turn 5 with 10 laps remaining.

The drama did not stop there as Huertas became the next faller at Turn 5, crashing one lap later out of the lead. With damage to his Ducati, the #99 quickly dropped outside of the points with work to do as Montella now had a strong advantage in the lead. Once everything began to settle it allowed Manzi and Debise to enter the podium places, in a strong ride from the Yamaha riders.

FINAL FIGHT: Top five undecided

On the final lap, Montella had over seven seconds of an advantage with one hand on the victory. Meanwhile, there was a huge battle for fifth position as Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) continued to defend from Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing). However, once the flag came out there was nobody able to match Montella, reigning supreme and beating Manzi and Debise.

RECOVERY RIDE: Huertas take P12

Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) was fourth and crossed the line to take the honours as the top MV Agusta rider. Meanwhile, Mahias held onto fifth place as van Straalen was forced to settle for sixth position. However, there was movement behind as Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was promoted to seventh after Marcel Schrotter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was demoted one position due to irresponsible riding. The #23 was placed ahead of John McPhee (WRP by SKM-Triumph) in the results, after a strong ride for the #17 to finish ahead of Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) – rounding out the top 10.

Further back, Huertas charged to 12^th, with the Spaniard’s Championship lead down to just 20 points. There was further drama throughout Race 2 with Lorenzo Baldassarri (WRP by SKM-Triumph) crashing at Turn 3. The Italian was forced to retire and was later found to have suffered a right distal radius displaced fracture. Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) and Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) also had falls of their own, bringing a disappointing end to the weekend.

The top six from WorldSSP Race 2, full results here:

1. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)

2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Prometeon Ten Kate Racing) +5.897s

3. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +9.487s

4. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +12.436s

5. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +19.187s

6. Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +19.912s

Fastest lap: Adrian Huertas (Ducati) – 1’43.578s

Championship standings

1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 260 points

2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 240

3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Prometeon Ten Kate Racing) 219

4. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) 156

5. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 142

6. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 120

WorldSSP heads to France next and you can watch everything using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship delivered further drama and battles at the Pirelli Portuguese Round, with Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) completing the double after the Italian took victory by 0.214s. It was Gennai’s sixth victory, adding to an impressive record at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.

STRONG PODIUM: MTM Kawasaki one-two

Race 2 was full of twists as Gennai took victory from his teammate Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki), who had a phenomenal last lap, pulling off incredibly brave moves to secure 20 points in the Championship as the Dutchman crossed the line to also claim his sixth podium and the Championship lead. Meanwhile, Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) took the final spot on the podium, claiming his third podium and the 100^th podium for Spain.

DRAMA: Iglesias retires to the pitlane

Once the lights went out it was a dream start for Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team), who led a packed 33 bike field through the opening lap. There was early Championship drama with Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki) dropping outside of the points before entering the pitlane to retire from Race 2 ending the weekend with zero points. Meanwhile, the battle for the lead continued with MTM Kawasaki’s Gennai and Veneman both having their shot at the front.

At the front, it was turning out to be a great race for Marc Garcia and Julio Garcia, who were in a brief Kove one-two. It was a five-rider lead group, duelling for position at every opportunity as Elia Bartolini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) began to battle for a podium finish in Portugal. It was clean racing at the front as the race entered its closing stages and tension began to build.

LAST CHANCE: Gennai holds onto victory

Heading onto the final lap, Gennai hit the front with the lead changing at every corner and the two Kove’s battling behind. The podium was not decided as Veneman began to make moves, sliding into P2 in the final sector. Gennai had the perfect gap heading towards the line for the final time, completing a brilliant weekend. The #26 was joined on the podium by Veneman and Julio Garcia.

BEST OF THE REST: Marc Garcia claims P4

Missing out on a podium finish in Race 2 was Marc Garcia, securing fourth position after missing out by a mere 0.084s in the drag to the line. It was a strong weekend for the #22 after beating Bartolini, who claimed the final spot inside the top five. The #31 was the last rider in the front group with Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffc Kawasaki) finishing a further 6.946s behind in sixth, ahead of Jeffery Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) and a huge second group of riders. Meanwhile, Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) was eighth as Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) and Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) took the final spots inside the top 10.

POINTS: Fontainha completes the top 15

Pepe Osuna (DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) was 11^th ahead of Bruno Ieraci (Team ProDina Kawasaki) and Carter Thompson (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki), with the Aussie crossed the line in 13^th position. The #50 continued to look strong in WorldSSP300, as Matteo Vannucci (Pata Yamaha AG Motorsport Italia) and Kevin Fontainha (Yamaha AD78 FIM LA by MS Racing) took the final points this weekend.

The top six from WorldSSP300 Race 2, full results here:

1. Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki)

2. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.214s

3. Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) +0.216s

4. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) +0.300s

5. Elia Bartolini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) +0.388s

6. Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) +7.334s

Fastest lap: Loris Veneman (Kawasaki) – 1’54.988s

Championship standings

1. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) 139 points

2. Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) 129

3. Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) 128

4. Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) 99

5. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) 89

6. Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) 76

Make sure you follow the remainder of the WorldSSP300 season using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned for racing action on Sunday at the Pirelli Portuguese Round. It was an unbelievable race which entered the history books after Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)  became the first rider ever to take 12 consecutive victories in WorldSBK. It was an impressive ride from the Turkish star, who claimed his 53^rd and will be setting sights on a potential 54^th in Race 2. Chasing Razgatlioglu at the line was Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who after claiming the lead on the opening lap, battled hard to hold onto second and finished 0.271s ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who took his eighth podium of the season.

PERFECTION: Razgatlioglu charges to history

It was a brilliant launch from Petrucci, leading Lowes on the opening lap as the thrilling Superpole Race got underway. However, Razgatlioglu was soon on the attack, lining up a brilliant move on the run to Turn 1, using the slipstream and braking deep to charge from third to first. There were battles everywhere in the opening laps with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) attempting to have another strong race at Portimao after passing Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) for sixth.

Meanwhile, Petrucci began to battle with Lowes, trying to reclaim second place at the halfway point. The Italian made the move stick, with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) soon putting the #22 under pressure in the battle for the final podium position. Lowes dropped to fourth with two laps remaining, before responding on the final lap to reclaim third from van der Mark. Nobody could match Razgatlioglu’s pace, allowing the #54 to claim his 12^th consecutive victory in WorldSBK, with Petrucci and Lowes joining him on the podium.

POINTS: Strong ride from Vierge

Finishing in fourth was van der Mark, who continues to show podium pace at Portimao after the Dutchman finished ahead of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in fifth. The Italian had an uneventful Superpole Race, beating his teammate Bautista by a mere 0.166s. Meanwhile, it was a sensation result for Xavi Vierge (Team HRC), claiming seventh, and earning a strong starting position for the final race of the weekend. The #97 was ahead of top Yamaha rider, Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who was eighth as the final spot inside the top nine went the way of Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven).

NO POINTS: Rea drops to 10^th

Rea crossed the line in 10^th, dropping down the order throughout the Superpole Race with attention turning to Race 2. The six-time WorldSBK Champion was ahead of his teammate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), who was 13^th and ahead of GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team’s Remy Gardner, with the Australian finishing in 15^th.

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

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)

2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +2.980s

3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +3.251s

4. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)

5. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.563s

6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.729s

7. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) +8.025s

8. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +9.769s

9. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +9.823s

Fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) – 1’40.069s

Make sure you tune in for Race 2 at 18:00 Local Time (UTC +1) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com