Hungarian Hat-Trick for Razgatlioglu as WorldSBK Celebrates 1000th Race

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WorldSBK marked its historic 1000th race in spectacular fashion at Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit, and no one stole the spotlight quite like Toprak Razgatlioglu. The reigning World Champion didn’t just win—he dominated, clinching a stunning third consecutive hat-trick of wins and claiming his 71st career victory in the process.

The Superpole Race offered an extra layer of drama, thanks to unpredictable track conditions. Early morning rain left the circuit damp, complicating tyre choices for teams across the board. As the track began to dry, it became clear that riders and strategists would have to make split-second decisions—and only some got it right.

Race 2 Recap: Toprak Unstoppable

Starting from pole, Razgatlioglu didn’t lead from the outset. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) launched into Turn 1 with a textbook holeshot, but it didn’t last long. The Spaniard held the advantage only until Turn 5, when Razgatlioglu executed a clinical overtake under braking to reclaim the front. Once in clear air, the BMW rider was untouchable.

Within just two laps, Razgatlioglu had stretched out a one-second lead. He continued to pull away with a relentless series of blistering laps, setting a new lap record in the process. By the time he crossed the finish line, his margin was over ten seconds—an emphatic display of control, speed, and confidence.

Bulega Battles to Second

While Razgatlioglu disappeared into the distance, Nicolo Bulega was carving his way through the pack. Starting down in tenth, the Ducati rider made short work of those ahead of him. He was up to seventh by the end of Lap 1 and into podium contention by Lap 5. Just a lap later, he passed into second place.

Though unable to challenge for the win, Bulega’s comeback was impressive. His second-place finish keeps him in touch in the championship standings, though he’ll be frustrated by missed opportunities earlier in the weekend.

Sam Lowes Scores Another Podium

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) continued to shine in his debut WorldSBK campaign. The Brit, who started on the front row, was briefly shuffled back after the start but quickly regrouped. After passing both Bautista and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) on Lap 3, Lowes locked in for a podium fight.

Though he couldn’t hold off Bulega later in the race, Lowes fended off a determined Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and secured his fourth career podium in WorldSBK. It was a confident and consistent ride that underscored his growing stature in the paddock.

Consistent Locatelli and Hard-Fighting Petrucci

Locatelli continued his run of solid results with a fifth-place finish, extending his streak of top-five results to nine consecutive races. Petrucci, who battled Lowes in the early and middle stages of the race, eventually crossed the line in fourth—another strong showing for the Barni Spark Ducati.

Midfield Mayhem and Standings Shuffle

A fierce mid-pack duel played out between Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and Xavi Vierge (Team HRC Honda). The Kawasaki rider ultimately came out on top, claiming sixth, while Vierge settled for seventh.

Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) was also in the thick of that group, but a Long Lap Penalty and a late crash dashed his hopes of a strong finish.

Championship Picture: Razgatlioglu Takes Control

Razgatlioglu’s flawless weekend has given him a 26-point lead in the championship standings over Bulega. Meanwhile, Bautista’s crash and DNF dropped him to fifth place overall, with just 16 points separating him from both Petrucci and Locatelli.

BMW also made significant gains in the Manufacturer Standings, closing the gap to Ducati to just 16 points.

Rider Reactions – Post-Race Quotes

P1 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team):

“I’m really happy. In Race 2, we went with a different tyre and it worked better—it gave me more consistency and I could just focus on maintaining the pace. Huge thanks to the whole team. Every session we improved, and this result is for them. It’s special to complete another hat-trick just before the summer break. I’m already looking forward to Magny-Cours, especially since I missed it last year. Let’s see what we can do there.”

P2 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati):

“Starting from 10th made things harder, and the conditions earlier didn’t help. But I was focused on recovering positions and felt stronger in Race 2. Congrats to Toprak and BMW—they’ve been impressive all weekend. Second place still gives us good points, and now we’ll look to reset and improve after the summer.”

P3 – Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team):

“After the disappointment yesterday, it felt good to bounce back. I really enjoyed Race 2—it was mostly dry and I could settle into a rhythm. Hungary’s been a great venue, and the fans made it even better. Toprak and Bulega were a bit faster, but I’m proud of how I rode. If I’d finished yesterday’s race, who knows? Still, two podiums in one weekend—I’ll take that.”

Race 2 – Final Classification

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +10.317s
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +13.154s
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +18.297s
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +18.752s
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +20.052s

Superpole Race Recap: Tyre Choices Make or Break Results

The morning warm-up was fully wet, but as the track began to dry before the 10-lap Superpole Race, tyre strategy became the deciding factor. Riders faced a gamble: go with slicks or choose intermediates?

Almost all top scorers opted for slicks—the correct choice in hindsight. Bulega and Petrucci, however, chose intermediates, and both suffered. Bulega, second in the championship, found himself outside the points after Lap 1 and only managed 13th at the flag.

Razgatlioglu started from pole and built a quick early lead. However, Sam Lowes and Petrucci challenged strongly. Lowes hit the front and led for four laps, but Razgatlioglu reclaimed the lead at Turn 1 on Lap 7 and never looked back.

Bautista finished third after hanging on in the drying conditions. Locatelli and Vierge stayed competitive throughout, rounding out the top five.

A bold tyre gamble from Axel Bassani, combining an intermediate front and slick rear, saw the Kawasaki rider surge up to sixth. It was one of the day’s standout strategy calls.

Behind him, Ryan Vickers and Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Racing) recorded career-best finishes in seventh and eighth. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) completed the top nine.

Superpole Race – Top 3 Finishers

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) – 1’40.649
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +2.810s
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +7.251s

Manzi Clinches Back-to-Back Wins Before Summer Break as Jespersen Shines

Stefano Manzi signed off the first half of the FIM Supersport World Championship in style, taking his second win of the weekend in a gripping Race 2 showdown at Balaton Park. But it was Simon Jespersen who stole hearts and headlines alongside him, delivering a spectacular ride to secure Denmark’s first podium in WorldSSP since Robbin Harms back in 2008 at Phillip Island.

Starting from the third row, Jespersen got an electrifying launch and snatched the lead on the opening lap. He looked confident and composed as he fended off pressure from championship leader Manzi. The pair went wheel-to-wheel through most of the 18-lap race, with Jespersen refusing to fade under the weight of expectation or the pace of his more experienced rival.

The decisive move came in the final two laps, when Manzi, riding for Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing, finally managed to break Jespersen’s resistance. A slight error from Jespersen gave Manzi the window he needed, and he pulled out a gap of almost two seconds by the flag—clinching another 25 points and widening his title lead in the process.

Oncu Takes Third in Tough Duel with Bayliss

Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team), who had briefly led the race mid-distance, couldn’t match the late-race pace of Manzi or Jespersen. With his tyres dropping off in the final third, he was forced into a defensive race, trying to hang on to a podium that wasn’t guaranteed.

His primary threat came from Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing), who matched Oncu lap-for-lap. The pair were locked in a fierce scrap throughout the second half, culminating in contact at Turn 5 on the final lap. Despite the elbow-to-elbow aggression, Oncu held on for third, while Bayliss took an impressive fourth—his best finish to date in WorldSSP and a strong statement from the Australian youngster.

Masia Rockets from Last to Sixth

One of the standout rides of the day came from Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura), who started dead last on the grid and carved his way through the field with razor-sharp consistency. By Lap 3 he had broken into the points, and by Lap 8, he was inside the top ten.

Masia crossed the line in sixth, a reward for his persistence and intelligent race management. His performance also moves him into third overall in the championship standings—a significant milestone for the Spanish rider in his rookie WorldSSP season.

Championship Update: Manzi’s Lead Grows

Manzi’s flawless Hungarian weekend—two wins and pole—has strengthened his grip on the WorldSSP title. He now leads the championship by 59 points over Oncu. Meanwhile, Masia’s rise continues, as he climbs to third in the standings for the first time this year.

In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Yamaha’s dominance is clear. The Japanese marque now enjoys a 140-point lead over Ducati, with Triumph holding third as the series heads into its summer break.

P1 – Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)

“I had a great launch from pole, but Jespersen came through immediately and I dropped to third. I chose the harder compound rear tyre, so I was patient in the early laps, watching how the pace unfolded. Around Lap 5 or 6, I saw the chance to take the lead and tried to control things from the front. I was comfortable and consistent, but then I hit a neutral at Turn 2 and lost some time. Jespersen closed the gap and didn’t give me a second to breathe. He was riding incredibly. In the end, I pushed and managed to get some space. I’m really happy to win again and head into the break with momentum.”