The tenth round of the 2025 WorldSBK season got underway at MotorLand Aragon, kicking off the paddock’s traditional late-season Iberian swing. Under bright skies and near-perfect track conditions, Toprak Razgatlioglu once again showcased his raw pace for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, but it was Nicolo Bulega who struck back in the afternoon as both riders laid down early markers in Spain.
Razgatlioglu’s Relentless Consistency
The opening 90-minute Free Practice 1 session saw Razgatlioglu stop the clocks with a 1’48.385, a time good enough to top the combined standings for most of the day. The Turkish ace has dominated the second half of the season with an incredible twelve straight wins, yet he still finds himself chasing a first career victory at Aragon. His morning run included 28 laps, capped by a blistering flyer that put him three tenths clear of the pack. In FP2, he shifted focus to a full race simulation, running long and steady despite a brief shifter problem midway through.
Bulega Answers Back for Ducati
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), second in the championship behind Toprak, made his intentions clear in the afternoon. After spending FP1 fine-tuning electronics, he clicked into gear in FP2 and set the fastest lap of the session. With 37 laps completed across the day, including a long run that mirrored Razgatlioglu’s pace, Bulega looked every inch the contender. His Ducati V4R thrived in Aragon’s flowing sections, and although he still pointed to areas for improvement, his late push showed the Italian will not be content playing second fiddle.
Sam Lowes Stays Strong
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) kept up his impressive rookie WorldSBK season, ending third overall. The Englishman, who has always gone well at Aragon during his Grand Prix days, strung together a 14-lap stint in FP2 and posted a best of 1’48.9 after ten laps of that run. While he admitted to losing a little ground in the final sector, his rhythm and consistency once again underline why he has been a podium threat nearly everywhere this season.
Bautista, Locatelli, and the Chasers
Home favourite Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fifth quickest. The Spaniard’s last WorldSBK victory came here 12 months ago, and his strength on Aragon’s mile-long back straight was evident. Still, he knows his fate this weekend will largely rest on his Superpole performance.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) surged late to grab fourth overall, while Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) also climbed into the top eight with a late flyer. On the other side of the garage, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) ended his day in the gravel after a crash in the final minute, cutting short what could have been a promising run.
Toprak Reacts
“This afternoon I focused on my race simulation and managed consistent lap times,” Razgatlioglu explained. “I had a small shifter issue around lap 12, but after fixing it I stayed out on the same tyre. Bulega went quicker with a new tyre, but my pace on race tyres was very strong. The biggest step forward came with the front tyre management. I’m happy with FP2 and feel ready to finally fight for a win at Aragon.”
Bulega Responds
“Today was very positive,” Bulega said. “We made some changes between FP1 and FP2 that worked well. There are still small details, especially with the electronics, that we need to improve tomorrow, but overall I’m pleased.”
Lowes Reflects
“I was consistent, which was the goal,” noted Lowes. “I managed a 1’48.9 after ten laps in the race run, which shows the potential. I’m just missing something in the last sector. It’s always fun to ride here, and obviously the podium is the target.”
Combined Results after FP2
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.012s
- Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.261s
- Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.350s
- Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.363s
- Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.380s
WorldSSP: Casadei Takes First Career Pole
Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing) made history in WorldSSP by clinching his maiden Superpole with a record-breaking 1’52.257. The Italian, a mid-season addition to the team, had already shown qualifying promise earlier in the year but delivered when it mattered at Aragon.
Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) was narrowly beaten in the final moments, settling for second, while Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) secured third. Regulation tweaks limiting Yamaha’s revs by 800rpm added an extra twist, leaving Can Öncü (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros) in fifth despite sealing the season’s best-qualifier award. Championship leader Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) will have work to do from the third row.
Casadei on Pole
“It’s an amazing start to the weekend. My team worked so well, and this pole means a lot because I haven’t always had the best starts. From the front, I can fight for the podium, which is always the goal.”
WorldSSP Superpole Results
- Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing)
- Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +0.285s
- Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +0.395s
- Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.489s
- Can Öncü (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros) +0.498s
- Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.548s
WorldSSP300: Vannucci Ends Pole Drought
In WorldSSP300, Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia) stormed to his first pole in two years, setting a new class lap record late in the session. It was the Italian’s fourth career pole and a vital boost as he looks to end the season strongly.
Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) and Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove), both in the thick of the title fight, joined him on the front row after setting their best times early in the 25-minute dash.
Veteran Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing), a four-time Aragon winner, will start further back after running solo for much of the session, but his race-day craft makes him one to watch.
Vannucci’s Reaction
“It feels fantastic to take pole again, especially doing it on my own. We’ve worked so hard, and I owe this to my team and sponsors. Tomorrow is the real test, but starting in front gives me confidence.”
WorldSSP300 Superpole Results
- Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia)
- Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) +0.454s
- Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) +0.518s
- David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) +0.715s
- Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motorsport Italika Racing) +0.936s
- Juan Risueno (MS Racing) +0.984s
Why This Matters
Day one at Aragon didn’t just provide headline lap times — it hinted at deeper storylines. Razgatlioglu still chases his first win at this circuit despite unmatched momentum, Bulega looks increasingly like a genuine title threat, and Sam Lowes continues to defy expectations in his rookie campaign. In the support classes, new pole sitters Casadei and Vannucci reminded everyone that breakthroughs can happen anywhere, even against seasoned rivals.
Images WorldSBK
