Jerez Set for an Emotional WorldSBK Season Finale
As the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship prepares to lower the curtain at Jerez, emotions will run high. The Pirelli Spanish Round won’t just decide a world title — it will close chapters, mark farewells, and celebrate the riders who’ve defined an era of Superbike racing.
Championship Outlook: Toprak on the Verge
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) stands on the edge of greatness. With 580 points and a 39-point cushion over Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), the Turkish star could clinch his third WorldSBK crown as early as Race 1. All he needs is a victory, or simply to finish ahead of Bulega — unless the Italian slips to 14th or lower, in which case the title is his regardless.
Razgatlioglu’s season has been a masterclass in precision, aggression, and resilience — traits that have become his hallmark since switching to BMW. A third title would cement his place among the sport’s all-time legends, while also serving as a fitting farewell before his long-awaited move to MotoGP next year.
Bulega Strikes Back, Bautista Back on Form
Nicolo Bulega arrives at Jerez in fighting mood after a stunning Race 2 win in Estoril reignited his momentum. The rookie sensation has proven himself more than capable of challenging the established elite and will aim to delay Toprak’s celebrations for as long as possible.
Behind the title contenders, Alvaro Bautista’s triple podium haul in Portugal vaulted him back into third place overall. The Spaniard trails teammate Bulega by 289 points but holds an eight-point edge over Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) as the race for the final championship podium spot tightens.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), sidelined through injury in Estoril, has slipped to fifth in the standings but still walks away as the 2025 Best Independent Rider — a reward for his consistency across the season.
Farewells and Fresh Starts: The Final Chapter
Jerez will host more than just a title decider — it will be a round steeped in emotion.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, after years of delivering unforgettable battles and breathtaking saves, will bow out of WorldSBK before stepping into MotoGP in 2026. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), the most successful rider in Superbike history, is also preparing to say goodbye after an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades, six world titles, and more than a century of victories.
For Alvaro Bautista, this weekend marks the end of his partnership with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati. The hometown hero hopes to finish on a high before beginning a new chapter with Barni Spark Racing Team next season.
The Honda HRC duo of Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge will also part ways with the manufacturer they’ve represented since 2022. Lecuona will move to Ducati machinery, while Vierge replaces Rea at Yamaha.
Elsewhere, Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) will conclude his own WorldSBK journey — one that began in 2015 and delivered multiple victories, podiums, and unforgettable performances.
Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) and Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) will contest their final races for their respective teams, while doubts remain over the fitness of both Danilo Petrucci and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha), each hoping to make one last appearance before switching outfits for 2026.
History at Jerez
Jerez has been a theatre for glory and heartbreak in equal measure.
In 2024, Bulega was untouchable — taking victory in Race 1 and the Superpole Race — before Razgatlioglu clinched his championship with a dramatic win in Race 2.
Alvaro Bautista remains the most successful rider at the Andalusian circuit, boasting five wins, while Razgatlioglu and Rea share three each. Andrea Locatelli, Alex Lowes, and Michael van der Mark have also stood on the Jerez podium, adding further weight to this weekend’s unpredictability.
WorldSSP: Manzi Leads the Pack Into the Finale
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) heads to Jerez already crowned the 2025 FIM Supersport World Champion — a title sealed in Estoril after a season of sheer dominance. His 425 points put him 82 clear of nearest rival Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team), who has mathematically secured second in the standings.
Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing), sitting third on 233 points, is locked in a tight scrap with Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura), with just six points separating them ahead of the finale.
Manzi’s record at Jerez bodes well — he completed a memorable double victory there in 2024, while veteran Federico Caricasulo (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) has also claimed wins at the Spanish track, in 2017 and 2019. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) will look to repeat last year’s podium performance after a strong season of resurgence.
WorldSSP300: A Title Decider and a Final Goodbye
All eyes turn to the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, where three riders remain in contention — and where the class itself prepares for its swansong.
Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) leads the standings with 205 points, holding a slender 10-point advantage over Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki), who has claimed two wins in the last four races. David Salvador (MS Racing) sits 22 points adrift, still within mathematical reach, while Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia) retains an outside shot, 46 points back.
The title permutations are complex, but simple for Fernandez:
- He will be crowned World Champion if he wins and Thompson finishes 7th or lower.
- He can also secure the crown with 2nd if Thompson is 12th or worse and Salvador doesn’t win.
- Or with 3rd, if Thompson is 16th or lower and Salvador finishes 5th or worse.
Last year’s races saw homegrown talents David Salvador and Julio Garcia delight the Spanish fans with victories, while two-time champion Jeffrey Buis remains the only other current rider to have conquered Jerez.
The Curtain Falls: A New Era Beckons
The 2025 Pirelli Spanish Round isn’t just the finale of a championship — it’s the final chapter for the WorldSSP300 category, introduced in 2017 as a breeding ground for young talent. Over eight seasons, it has produced countless stars who’ve gone on to higher classes, embodying the sport’s spirit of growth and opportunity.
From 2026, it will give way to the all-new World Sportbike Championship, ushering in a new era of competition designed to bridge the gap between Supersport and Superbike — and continue nurturing the next generation of world champions.
As the engines roar to life one last time at Jerez, WorldSBK stands poised at the intersection of nostalgia and renewal — celebrating legends, crowning champions, and turning the page to a bold new future.
Official WorldSBK
