Championship Standings
As the second half of the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship gets underway, the spotlight remains firmly on Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega. Razgatlioglu, representing the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, currently leads the title chase with 407 points. His cushion is a slender 26 points over Aruba.It Racing – Ducati star Bulega, with just four rounds left to settle the outcome.
Behind the leading pair, the fight is more spread out. Danilo Petrucci of Barni Spark Racing sits third on 233 points, though a distant 148 adrift of Bulega. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) continues to hover in the mix, just 15 points behind Petrucci, making him a strong candidate for the final podium spot in the standings. Importantly, Locatelli is also the highest-placed Yamaha rider in the field.
Rounding out the top five is Alvaro Bautista, also of Aruba.It Racing – Ducati, just a single point off Locatelli. The battle for third through fifth could prove just as thrilling as the duel for the championship crown.
A New Face in the Honda Garage
Honda HRC will have a revised line-up for the French round, with Sergio García stepping in alongside Xavi Vierge. García replaces Iker Lecuona, who is still recovering from surgery on his left forearm. The Spaniard isn’t arriving cold — he’s already had valuable track time during a test session at MotorLand Aragon earlier in the summer, giving him a head start as he prepares for his first WorldSBK race weekend.
Historical Benchmarks at Magny-Cours
Magny-Cours has often been a turning point in the WorldSBK season, and the French circuit has its share of records. Jonathan Rea, now in the twilight of his career, remains the most successful rider there with nine wins. But Toprak Razgatlioglu is closing fast: the Turkish ace already has eight victories at the venue, making him the clear danger man this weekend.
Razgatlioglu is also chasing another personal milestone. He sits just three wins short of equalling his career-best tally of 18 victories in a single season. After being forced to miss the 2024 French round due to injury, he is eager to make up for lost time. Last year’s event belonged to Nicolo Bulega, who claimed two of the three races, while Michael van der Mark gave BMW fans something to cheer by winning Race 1 — his most recent WorldSBK triumph.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While the championship fight rages on, attention is already turning to 2026. Danilo Petrucci has confirmed a major move, switching to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Meanwhile, Iker Lecuona is set to join Nicolo Bulega at Aruba.It Racing – Ducati, strengthening their already formidable line-up. Alvaro Bautista, a long-time Ducati stalwart, will make a surprise switch to Barni Spark Racing Team.
Perhaps the biggest news, however, comes from Jonathan Rea. The six-time WorldSBK Champion has announced he will retire at the end of the current campaign. His departure will close a remarkable chapter in Superbike history, leaving behind a legacy that few riders will ever match.
Eyes on the Future – Testing and Development
Several teams took to MotorLand Aragon for a two-day test ahead of the final run-in. While the main focus was preparing for the last four rounds, some outfits used the opportunity to look further ahead. Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, in particular, turned heads as Bulega and Bautista debuted the 2026-spec Panigale V4R. Sporting a striking red-and-black camouflage livery, the test bike drew plenty of attention — a sign that Ducati is already gearing up for the next chapter.
WorldSSP: Manzi Leads as Title Fight Resumes in France
Championship Picture
In WorldSSP, Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) carries momentum into Magny-Cours after taking victory in the final race before the summer break. The Italian heads the standings with 294 points.
Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) sits second, 59 points adrift, while rookie sensation Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) continues to impress in third on 191 points. The battle for third remains tight, with Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) just three points behind on 188. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) holds fifth place with 172 points.
Track Records
Among the current grid, Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) boasts the strongest record at Magny-Cours, with two wins and five podiums. Niki Tuuli (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) is also a past winner here, his most recent success coming in 2024.
Curiously, despite leading the championship, Stefano Manzi has never triumphed at the French venue, while his closest rival Can Oncu has just a single podium finish there, back in 2021. This weekend could provide both men the chance to rewrite that statistic.
WorldSSP300: Fernandez Holds Narrow Lead
Championship Fight
The smallest margin in the paddock belongs to WorldSSP300, where Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) arrives in France holding a slender one-point lead with 134 points. Hot on his heels is Julio Garcia, while two-time champion Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) sits third with 114 points.
Unfortunately, Garcia will not be on the grid this weekend following a training injury, leaving the title battle wide open for Fernandez and Buis.
French Fortunes
Magny-Cours has been kind to Jeffrey Buis in the past. The Dutchman holds the record for the most victories at the track with four, his latest coming in Race 2 last year. Other current riders to have celebrated wins here include Unai Calatayud (ARCO MotoR University Team) and Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300).
Grid Changes
There will also be some changes to the line-up. Loris Veneman returns to the WorldSSP300 grid, stepping in for Mirko Gennai at MTM Kawasaki. Gennai himself will still be racing, having moved across to Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport to replace the injured Julio Garcia.
