The 2025 WorldSBK season came to a thrilling conclusion at Jerez, where Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured his third World Superbike Championship crown after a weekend filled with tension, crashes, and championship-defining moments.
Despite a dramatic incident in the Tissot Superpole Race that saw him crash out after contact with title rival Nicolo Bulega, Razgatlioglu kept his composure and completed the job in Race 2, confirming back-to-back championships for BMW — a fitting end to his Superbike career before his anticipated move to MotoGP in 2026.
Tissot Superpole Race: Bulega’s Bold Win Amidst Controversy
The Superpole Race proved pivotal — and controversial. Razgatlioglu made a perfect start from pole, leading into Turn 1, but chaos struck just moments later at Turn 5. As Bulega dived for the inside, slight contact between the pair sent the Turkish star sliding into the gravel, ending his race prematurely and sending shockwaves through the paddock.
Race direction handed Bulega a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding. Yet, such was the Ducati rider’s pace that he served it almost without consequence, rejoining in the lead and controlling the race from start to finish to claim his 13th win of the season.
Teammate Alvaro Bautista, using the softer SCQ tyre, charged through from the third row to finish second, making it an Aruba.it Racing – Ducati one-two. Andrea Iannone completed the podium for Team Pata Go Eleven, giving the satellite Ducati squad its first top-three finish since Phillip Island.
There was disappointment for Yamaha, as both Remy Gardner and Jonathan Rea were taken out on the opening lap following a Turn 3 incident.
Superpole Race Results:
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +4.055s
- Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +5.236s
Race 2: Calm, Calculated, and Champion Once More
Starting from 10th due to his non-score in the Superpole Race, Razgatlioglu delivered a measured and mature ride. By the end of lap one he was already up to eighth, and within a few laps, he had picked off rivals one by one — first Alex Lowes, then Xavi Vierge, and later Andrea Locatelli — to climb into podium contention.
Rather than risk everything for victory, the Turkish rider played the long game. With the title within reach, he settled into third position, ensuring the championship belonged to him once again.
At the front, Bautista, in his final outing for Ducati, made an aggressive start to take the lead from Bulega. However, the younger Italian quickly reclaimed control and steadily opened a 1.7-second gap to take his second win of the day — and hand Ducati another Manufacturers’ title.
The fight for fourth was a photo finish: Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) narrowly held off Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) by less than a tenth of a second. It was a strong send-off for Vierge, who concluded his Honda tenure with three consecutive top-five finishes.
Further back, Alex Lowes (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) fended off pressure from Iannone after the Italian made a small mistake at Turn 1 in the closing laps. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Racing) impressed once again, finishing eighth and completing his best weekend in WorldSBK with three top-ten results.
Race 2 Results:
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.793s
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +6.339s
- Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +8.833s
- Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +8.931s
Fastest Lap: Bulega – 1’38.693s
Championship Standings and Reflections
Razgatlioglu’s consistency throughout the season paid off. He secured the 2025 WorldSBK Championship by 13 points over Bulega, with Bautista a distant third.
Bulega’s late surge earned Ducati the Manufacturers’ crown, while Bautista’s run of eight straight podiums confirmed him as third overall.
Final Championship Standings:
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) – 616 pts
- Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) – 603 pts
- Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) – 337 pts
Rider Reactions:
Nicolo Bulega (P1, Race 2):
“I’m happy with this weekend but disappointed with the season overall. Toprak and BMW were stronger and deserve the title. I’m sorry for what happened in the Superpole Race — I tried to overtake cleanly, but these things happen when you’re fighting for a championship. We’ll regroup and come back stronger.”
Alvaro Bautista (P2):
“I’m proud of my weekend — three podiums and two second places. I wanted more, but this was the maximum. I’ve enjoyed every race this year, especially here at Jerez surrounded by family, friends, and fans. It’s been emotional.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (P3 & Champion):
“I stayed calm after the crash and focused on Race 2. The start of the season was tough, but the team and I improved together every round. To win my last title with BMW before moving to MotoGP is something special. I didn’t take risks today — I just wanted to finish and get the job done. I’m so proud of everyone.”
WorldSSP: Masia’s Masterclass and Bronze Glory
In the World Supersport finale, Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) delivered a brilliant performance to score his second win of the season and clinch third place in the championship.
After a frenetic opening half, Masia capitalized on chaos among the front group to break clear on lap 10, opening a gap of over a second that grew to more than three by the flag. Behind him, a thrilling last-lap duel for second saw Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) narrowly beat Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) by just 0.007 seconds after briefly running off track.
Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros) finished fourth, ahead of Mattia Casadei, securing the Teams’ title for Evan Bros Yamaha.
Race 2 Results:
- Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura)
- Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +3.255s
- Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +3.262s
Championship Standings:
- Stefano Manzi – 466 pts
- Can Oncu – 372 pts
- Jaume Masia – 265 pts
Masia:
“I’m over the moon! I didn’t expect this pace, but the team did an amazing job. Finishing top three in my first season in WorldSSP is something special. This gives us huge confidence going into 2026.”
WorldSSP300: Fernandez Crowned Champion in Dramatic Finale
The curtain fell on WorldSSP300 with a nail-biting race that saw Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) claim both victory and the world title after a photo finish.
The championship fight involved four contenders going into the final round, and the 11-lap sprint was decided by just 0.019s at the line. Fernandez held off David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI), who was later penalized for exceeding track limits, dropping him out of the points. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) finished sixth after also receiving a penalty.
Fernandez’s composure under pressure earned him the championship by 18 points, with Thompson second and Salvador third.
Fernandez:
“This is unbelievable! It’s been an incredible journey with my team. We had a tough start to the year, but we never gave up. Winning the title on my debut feels surreal. I’m grateful to everyone who believed in me.”
Race 2 Results:
- Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove)
- Dani Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) +0.404s
- Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.735s
Final Standings:
- Benat Fernandez – 231 pts
- Carter Thompson – 213 pts
- David Salvador – 203 pts
A Season to Remember
The 2025 WorldSBK weekend at Jerez will be remembered not only for Toprak Razgatlioglu’s third crown but also for the next generation of champions across all categories.
From Fernandez’s nail-biting WorldSSP300 triumph to Masia’s breakout Supersport season and BMW’s continued success, it was a fitting finale to one of the most competitive and emotional seasons in recent memory.
Official WorldSBK
