Under sweltering skies and with track temperatures pushing close to 50°C, the Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli delivered a punishing test for the WorldSBK grid. Saturday’s Race 1 unfolded as a tense, high-stakes battle of skill, resilience, and strategy, with Toprak Razgatlioglu ultimately prevailing after a dramatic 21-lap duel that saw multiple lead changes and fierce podium fights from start to finish.
Race 1 Recap: Heat, Penalties, and Heroics
The action began even before the lights went out. Despite earning pole position in Superpole, Nicolo Bulega was handed a grid penalty for slow riding, demoting the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider to fourth for the start. Unfazed, the championship leader surged into an early lead, controlling the race from the front for the opening four laps.
However, it was Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who would ultimately steal the spotlight. After a shaky start—where he briefly ran off at Turn 8 on the first lap and dropped to third—Toprak quickly regrouped. The Turkish rider capitalized on Axel Bassani’s crash at Turn 6 to regain ground, then hunted down Bulega in clinical fashion.
A small mistake from Bulega, who drifted wide at Turn 9 before the race reached its first quarter, was all the invitation Razgatlioglu needed. He slid his BMW into the lead and never relinquished it. Despite constant pressure and rising track temperatures, Toprak managed to stretch a slender advantage and crossed the finish line 1.045 seconds ahead of Bulega to claim a crucial 25 points in his title campaign.
The fight for the final podium spot was no less intense. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) waged a thrilling race-long contest. Lowes briefly edged ahead at Turn 2, but Petrucci hit back within a few corners, demonstrating both racecraft and determination. Petrucci would hold on for third place—his first podium since Assen—while Lowes had to settle for fourth.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) delivered a welcome return to form by finishing fifth, his strongest result since winning in the Netherlands earlier in the season.
Reigning champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had to fight his way through the field from the fourth row after a sub-par qualifying. He looked poised to challenge for the podium but ran wide while attempting a pass on Sam Lowes at Turn 8, costing him momentum. Bautista ended up in seventh, though a post-race penalty for Sam Lowes—who exceeded track limits—bumped Bautista up to sixth, dropping the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team rider to seventh.
Championship Implications: Margin Narrows, Momentum Shifts
Despite finishing second, Bulega continues to lead the WorldSBK championship standings, now 26 points clear of Razgatlioglu. While not a disaster for Ducati, the gap narrowed slightly, and with two more races to come at Misano, the pressure is building.
BMW also enjoyed a minor boost in the Manufacturers’ Championship, clawing back five points from Ducati thanks to Toprak’s victory.
Rider Quotes: Grit, Frustration, and Strategy
🏆 P1 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
“This wasn’t an easy race at all. I gave everything on every lap. I knew Ducati and Bulega would be fast here, especially in this kind of heat, so I just focused on keeping consistent and pushing every time I saw an opening. Near the end I started feeling a lot of chatter on the bike, but I stayed calm and focused. This win means a lot—not just to me, but for the team and the championship. It’s a great start to the weekend, but we’ve still got two more races ahead, and we’ll keep fighting.”
🥈 P2 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“To be honest, I didn’t feel completely at ease on the bike. The high temperatures made everything more difficult, and I’d say I was riding at about 90%, which isn’t enough if you want to beat someone like Toprak. We’ll work to improve that for Sunday. As for the penalty—I don’t agree with it. I looked back after Turn 10 and saw Petrucci behind, so I sped up again to avoid getting in his way. Even Danilo said he wasn’t bothered by it. But that’s done now, and I’ll just focus on coming back stronger tomorrow.”
🥉 P3 – Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
“That race was unbelievably tough. Starting from the third row is never easy, and at one point I took a big hit to my arm—I still don’t know who from—but I kept pushing. When I got into third, I knew I had to manage rear grip, so I couldn’t go all out. The key was to save the front tyre for the final laps. Alex (Lowes) really pushed me, and I wasn’t sure I had enough left to keep him behind. I was counting down those final laps like it was my birthday—I just wanted it to end! But I’m proud of how we fought.”
Race 1 Results
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.045s
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +16.684s
4. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +16.824s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +17.450s
6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +18.361s
Fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu (BMW) – 1’33.201s
Home Hero Manzi Seals Victory After Fierce Battle at Misano
In front of his home fans at Misano, Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) delivered a masterful ride to claim a hard-fought win in a thrilling Race 1. The Italian rider, who started from the fourth row, wasted no time in carving his way through the pack, immediately inserting himself into the podium battle before hitting the front for the first time on Lap 7.
As the race wore on and temperatures soared, the top five riders gradually broke away from the rest of the field, setting the stage for a tense final few laps. Manzi, having lost and regained the lead several times, made the decisive move on the penultimate lap, passing Can Öncü (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) and pulling clear to win by half a second at the end of 18 laps.
Relentless Pressure and a Podium Shuffle
Öncü had been a persistent threat throughout, shadowing Manzi for much of the race and launching multiple attacks to wrest control of the lead. However, the Turkish rider ultimately couldn’t hang on in the final lap melee. In the closing moments, he was overtaken by Jaume Masià (Orelac Racing Verdnatura), who pounced to snatch second place, securing his third podium finish of the season on his Ducati. It was a standout ride from Masià, who had been locked in a tight battle with Öncü for most of the race.
Just outside the podium positions, Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) delivered a solid and consistent performance, fending off a late charge from Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) to finish fourth. Despite Booth-Amos’s strong pace toward the end, Debise held his nerve and held the line in the final sector.
Further down the field, Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) suffered an early setback after a crash took him out of contention. However, the Italian rider returned to the pits, swapped to fresh tyres, and rejoined the track. Though out of the fight for points, he laid down a statement lap late in the race—the fastest of the day—which earned him pole position for Race 2 on Sunday. He’ll be joined on the front row by Race 1 winner Manzi and third-place finisher Öncü.
Championship Picture: Manzi Increases His Lead
With this win, Manzi stretches his lead in the championship standings to 62 points ahead of Bo Bendsneyder. Tom Booth-Amos remains in the hunt, now 68 points off the top, sitting third in the rankings.
Yamaha also extends its dominance in the Manufacturers’ Championship, opening up a 91-point gap over Ducatiwith another maximum score from Manzi’s win.
Rider Reaction: Manzi Reflects on a Perfect Home Victory
🏆 P1 – Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
“That was a wild race! I got off the line really well, but then I had a bit of contact at Turn 2 and dropped to fifth. I told myself not to panic—I knew I had the pace, so I just focused on picking off one rider at a time. After a couple of laps, I was already up to third. I didn’t rush to get to the front because I wanted to manage my tyres and stay in a good rhythm.
Can and I had a great fight—we were trading places almost every lap. Every time he passed me, I got him back at the next corner, so it was intense! But I stayed focused, and when I finally got back in front near the end, I knew I had a chance to break away. That last lap, being out in front on my own, felt amazing.
I’m over the moon to win here at home in front of the Italian fans—it’s a special feeling. But the job’s not done yet. We’ve got Race 2 tomorrow, and now it’s time to recover and prepare for another battle.”
Race 1 Results
1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.514s
3. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +1.518s
4. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +1.573s
5. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +1.783s
6. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +3.229s
Fastest lap: Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta) – 1’37.536s
Thompson Makes History with Australia’s First WorldSSP300 Victory at Misano
The WorldSSP300 class once again delivered edge-of-the-seat action at Misano, with a chaotic ten-rider showdown going right down to the final lap. At the end of a nail-biting 12-lap battle, it was Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) who emerged victorious—claiming not only his first podium finish of the year but also Australia’s first-ever win in the WorldSSP300 championship.
Thompson timed his charge perfectly, holding his nerve in the tight leading group before making his move when it mattered most. The 18-year-old crossed the line 0.3 seconds ahead of the chasing pack, capping off a breakthrough weekend with a historic win.
Gaggi Returns to the Podium, Garcia Takes Points Lead
Behind the Australian, Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) secured a well-earned second place, marking his first visit to the podium since Portimão in 2023. The Italian managed to fend off a determined last-lap assault from Julio Garcia(Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) and Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove), who were locked in a fierce battle right until the finish line.
The final lap was filled with drama. Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300), who had been in contention for points, was penalized for exceeding track limits and subsequently dropped out of the points-paying positions, dealing a blow to his championship hopes.
Further back, Jeffrey Buis, a four-time race winner this season, produced an impressive recovery ride after serving a double long lap penalty. Despite the setback, the Dutch rider fought his way back into the lead group and crossed the line in eighth, salvaging eight valuable championship points.
Championship Standings Shake-Up
With the title fight heating up, Julio Garcia now leads the championship standings, holding a slender four-point margin over Benat Fernandez. Buis remains firmly in contention just one point further back, making it a tightly contested three-way fight as the season continues.
P1 – Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki)
“It’s hard to put this feeling into words—it’s amazing to get my first win of the season and my first podium too. The beginning of the year wasn’t easy, but the team has worked incredibly hard, and we’ve been improving every round. This weekend something really clicked—we made a breakthrough with the bike setup, and I felt much more confident out there.
I knew I had the pace, and I was trying to stay smart during the race, just sitting in the group and looking for the right moment. In this class, it’s so hard to break away, so I knew it would come down to the last lap. I gave it everything I had in those final corners, and luckily, it was enough. I’m so happy for the team and proud to bring home Australia’s first WorldSSP300 win.”
Race 1 Results
1. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki)
2. Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) +0.338s
3. Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) +0.473s
4. Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) +0.494s
5. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) +0.737s
6. Pepe Osuna (ZAPPAS-DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) +0.914s
Fastest lap: Carter Thompson (Kawasaki) – 1’49.415s
Official WorldSBK Press Release
