Thrilling Showdown in Race 1: Razgatlioglu Edges Out Bulega in a Classic Portimão Battle

The opening race of the weekend at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve delivered an absolute spectacle, with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega going head-to-head in a thrilling contest for victory. After 20 laps of intense racing, the Turkish rider clinched his first win of the season in dramatic fashion, crossing the line just 0.067s ahead of his Ducati rival.

A Tough Start, a Strong Comeback

Despite starting from pole position, Razgatlioglu struggled off the line and found himself in fifth place by the end of the first lap. The BMW rider quickly regrouped and launched his charge, hunting down Bulega in the early stages. By the time the race reached the one-third distance mark, Razgatlioglu had muscled his way into the lead for the first time.

He controlled the race at the front for seven laps, but Bulega wasn’t ready to settle for second. The Ducati rider mounted a counterattack, reclaiming the top spot and leading for nine laps as the two riders pushed their machines to the absolute limit. However, with just four laps remaining, Razgatlioglu made his decisive move, snatching the lead once more and holding on to secure victory by the narrowest of margins.

Locatelli Holds Off Petrucci for Podium Finish

While all eyes were on the battle at the front, Andrea Locatelli put in a stellar performance to secure third place. The Yamaha rider remained in podium contention for the entirety of the 20-lap race, resisting pressure from Danilo Petrucci, who was breathing down his neck throughout. The two Italians were separated by less than a second for most of the race, but Locatelli managed to keep his cool and claim a well-earned podium finish.

Vierge’s Impressive Charge from the Sixth Row

One of the standout performances of the race came from Xavi Vierge. The Honda HRC rider started from the sixth row of the grid but fought his way through the field to secure his first top-five finish since the French Round last season. He crossed the line five seconds behind Petrucci and two seconds ahead of BMW’s Michael van der Mark, capping off a strong ride.

Early Drama as Bautista and Redding Crash Out

The race had barely begun when chaos erupted at Turn 4. A collision between reigning World Champion Álvaro Bautista and Scott Redding saw both Ducati riders crash out on the opening lap, bringing their Race 1 hopes to a premature end. It was a devastating blow for Bautista, who had been hoping to close the gap in the championship standings, while Redding’s misfortune continued in what has been a challenging season so far.

Post-Race Reactions

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

“I didn’t have a great start, and I made a few mistakes early on, but I’m really happy with how I fought back. Nicolo was pushing hard, and he was very strong in the high-speed sections. I learned a few things from him today, which is always good. Tonight, we’ll be working hard with the team because we still need to improve the bike. The acceleration is good in some corners, but I need more grip. Still, I’m happy—we’re back to winning races. We have two more tomorrow, and we’ll see who comes out on top.”

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

“During testing, I wasn’t feeling strong, but we worked really hard before this round, and I have to thank my team for helping improve my feeling on the bike. It was a fantastic battle with Toprak—he’s always tough to beat. I was missing something in a few key areas, but considering where we started, I’m happy with this result. Portimão is one of Toprak’s best tracks, just like Australia is for me, so beating him here is extremely difficult. We gave it everything until the last lap. If we can fine-tune a few things overnight, I think we can fight even harder tomorrow.”

🥉 P3 – Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha)

“I’m really happy with this result. We’ve been working hard all weekend, and the base setup of the bike is strong. I’m still struggling a bit with the front end, so we need to make some adjustments, but overall, I’m pleased with how we performed. I stayed focused throughout the race, ready for anything, and finishing on the podium confirms that we’re competitive. I believe we have a real chance to fight for victory soon. We have two more races tomorrow, and I’ll be giving it my all to be back on the podium—or maybe even take the win!”

Looking Ahead to Sunday’s Races

With two more races on Sunday, the battle is far from over. Razgatlioglu will be looking to build on his victory, while Bulega will be determined to turn the tables. Locatelli, Petrucci, and Vierge will also be aiming to mix it up at the front, while Bautista will be desperate to bounce back after his disastrous opening-lap crash.

Don’t miss the action as the WorldSBK riders return to the Portimão circuit for what promises to be another day of intense racing!

Race 1 Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’40.351
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.067s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +7.855s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +8.991s
5. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +15.475s
6. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +17.830s

Oncu Dominates from Start to Finish

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Can Oncu Dominates for a Lights-to-Flag Victory

A Perfect Start and Commanding Lead

Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) made the most of his first-ever WorldSSP pole position, executing a flawless launch to grab the holeshot and immediately pulling clear of the field. Over the course of the 17-lap race, the Turkish rider showcased his dominance by extending his lead to more than 3.5 seconds before expertly managing the gap in the closing stages. With an outstanding display of racecraft and control, Oncu secured his first victory since Indonesia 2023, marking a triumphant return to the top step of the podium.

Manzi and Bendsneyder Fight for Second

Championship leader Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) had an equally strong start, charging through from the second row to claim second place by the end of the first lap. However, his race was far from comfortable, as he found himself in a fierce battle with Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). The two riders went head-to-head throughout the race, with Manzi ultimately holding onto second by less than a second over the Dutchman.

Mahias and Booth-Amos Complete the Top Five

Just outside the podium positions, Lucas Mahias (GMT94-Yamaha) delivered a solid ride to secure fourth place. Meanwhile, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) fought hard to claim fifth, capping off an impressive showing from the front runners.

Eyes on Race 2: Oncu Secures Pole Again

With the fastest lap of the race to his name, Oncu will once again start from pole position for Race 2. Lining up alongside him on the front row will be Lucas Mahias and Bo Bendsneyder, both eager to challenge for victory in the second outing.

P1 – Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) on His Emotional Comeback

“After my injury, I honestly thought everything was over. But Kenan has always pushed me to never give up. We started from zero, and every time I felt like quitting, he made me push harder. I want to give a huge thank you to the Kenan Academy and my team—this victory belongs to them. We’ve worked from morning to night, and today is proof of all that effort. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. The whole weekend has been really positive, and hopefully, we can be even stronger tomorrow!”

With Oncu back in top form, Race 2 promises to be just as thrilling. Will he secure back-to-back victories, or will his rivals step up to challenge him? Stay tuned for more action!

Race 1 Results

1. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) 29’28.151
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.836s
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.767s
4. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +3.801s
5. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +9.630s
6. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +9.888s

Buis Kicks Off the Season in Spectacular Style!

Buis Clinches Victory in a Thrilling Season Opener

The final season of the Supersport 300 World Championship kicked off with a spectacular victory for two-time champion Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing). The Dutch rider showcased his racecraft in a tense, race-long battle, ultimately securing his 14th career win in the class. With a ten-rider fight at the front throughout most of the race, Buis managed to execute his strategy perfectly, timing his final moves to perfection.

Fierce Podium Battle Ends in Photo Finish

The Kawasaki pairing of Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) and Antonio Torres (Team ProDina XCI) completed the podium, with the fight for the rostrum spots coming down to mere fractions of a second. In an incredibly tight finish, less than a tenth of a second separated second to sixth place, highlighting just how competitive the field was. For Garcia, this marked his sixth career podium, while Torres celebrated his second rostrum appearance in the championship.

Salvador’s Misfortune Sets Up Race 2 Pole Position

Despite showing strong pace, David Salvador’s race ended in disappointment as he was forced to retire in the closing laps. However, the Team ProDina XCI rider had already posted the fastest lap of the race before his exit, earning him pole position for Race 2. He will be joined on the front row by Garcia and Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing), both of whom will be looking to challenge for victory in the second race of the weekend.

P1 – Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing)

“We’ve done a lot of testing here, and because of that, we had a really strong setup for this track. From Free Practice onwards, we were fast, which helped us build a solid race pace. In the final laps, I still had good speed, and that allowed me to take the win. My strategy is always to keep a little in reserve and then push everything at the end—and this time, it worked perfectly! Tomorrow will bring even more competition, but for now, I’m going to enjoy this victory!”

With the first race of the season delivering such an intense battle, Race 2 promises even more drama as the grid lines up for another thrilling showdown.

Race 1 Results

1. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) 1’55.336
2. Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) +0.658s
3. Alvaro Torres (Team ProDina XCI) +0.663s
4. Bruno Fernández (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) +0.676s
5. Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing) +0.679s
6. Cameron Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) +0.706s

Official WorldSBK Press Release