The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Saturday afternoon for Race 1 of the Spanish round, and the 20-lap race resulted in Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claiming the 2024 WorldSBK Championship title as he rode a strong calculated race in second position, whilst his closest rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated the field, winning the first race of the weekend. Italian rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) claimed the final spot on the rostrum in third place.
Out of this world!@toprak_tr54 celebrates another title to his name#SpanishWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/5Yx70OuJ5z
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 19, 2024
DUCATI DOMINANT: Manufacturers’ Championship winners
Dry and sunny conditions set the stage for a memorable Race 1 at the Spanish circuit. Bulega had the hole shot at lights out, with Razgatlioglu hunting the Ducati rider down in second. Locatelli was strong off the start line, running in third ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and BMW’s Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team).
BAUTISTA CRASHES: Two falls in Race 1
The opening laps saw numerous riders unable to achieve positive starts to their race weekends, with both British riders Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) and Thomas Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) crashing out of contention at turn 6 on lap 1. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) also retired after a crash on lap one, whilst 2023 World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was another victim to fall to the gravel. He managed to recover however and re-join the back of the field, before crashing once again with just three laps of race distance remaining.
BULEGA 5TH CAREER WIN: #11 victorious in Spain
Back at the front, it was clear Razgatlioglu could not match the strong race pace demonstrated by Bulega, and Locatelli proving unable to hunt down a consistent #54 in second. Kawasaki’s Lowes was closely matched with Lecuona just outside of the rostrum rankings, with Toprak’s stablemate, van Der Mark riding in sixth. The positions stayed much the same throughout Race 1, and dismissing any rider mistakes, it was clear the Spanish spectators were going to witness the 2024 World Champion claiming his crown on Saturday afternoon.
Jerez Drift by @nbulega #SpanishWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/BIZDm0z9ST
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 19, 2024
TWO FOR TOPRAK: Turkish rider achieves second World Title
As the riders entered into the final lap of the race, the BMW garage prepared for what would be an historic day for them, as their #54 rider rode across the line in second place and sealing his World Championship title in the first race of the Spanish round. The 28-year-old Turkish rider builds on his success in 2021, adding another World Superbike Championship to his name and achieving BMW’s first ever Championship win in the class. He marks his 25th podium of the season as he stood alongside Bulega and Locatelli on the Spanish podium to celebrate a memorable day in Jerez.
The top six from WorldSBK Race 1, full results here:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +6.067s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +9.361s
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +11.249s
5. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +13.597s
6. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +14.976s
Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati – 1’39.371s
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Source: WorldSBK.com