Razgatlioglu Strikes Back with a Hat-Trick Victory in Portugal

Race 2: A Shortened Thriller Ends with a BMW Triumph

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) delivered a masterclass in Race 2 at Portimão, securing his third victory of the weekend in an 11-lap sprint. Originally scheduled for a full-length battle, the race was red-flagged after a crash on Lap 9, leading to a restart and a shortened showdown.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was in the fight until the very end, putting relentless pressure on Razgatlioglu. The Italian led for five laps, going wheel-to-wheel with the Turkish star in the closing stages, but ultimately had to settle for second place. It marked his 30th career podium finish, further cementing his impressive start to the season.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the podium, starting from the outside of the front row and maintaining his position throughout the race. Behind him, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) followed in fourth and fifth, respectively, running consistent races without major position changes.

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) made a solid return to action after missing the opening round due to injury. The Spaniard wrapped up his weekend in Portugal with a strong sixth-place finish, showing promise as he regains full race fitness.

Championship Battle Heats Up

Bulega remains at the top of the WorldSBK standings, but Razgatlioglu’s clean sweep in Portugal has significantly closed the gap. With three consecutive wins, the Turkish rider now trails by just 29 points, keeping his championship hopes alive.

Danilo Petrucci’s consistent performances saw him move up to third in the standings, thanks to three top-six finishes over the weekend. The former MotoGP rider continues to establish himself as a serious contender in his second WorldSBK season.

In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Ducati maintains its lead, sitting 27 points ahead of BMW. Yamaha remains in third, with Locatelli’s efforts in Portugal keeping them within reach of their rivals.

Post-Race Reactions

🏆 P1 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)

“I want to thank my team because everyone is working incredibly hard to improve the bike. We made progress in every session this weekend, and I’m really happy with the results. Congratulations to Nicolo—he was very strong, and his pace was incredible. It was an amazing battle, and I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did. My goal was clear coming into this weekend: I wanted to win. Now, we’ve shown that we are back and ready to fight at the front.”

🥈 P2 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

“I gave it everything today, but Toprak was just that little bit stronger. Portimão is one of his best tracks, and he’s always incredibly fast here. To be able to fight with him at this circuit shows that we are making big steps forward, which is important for the rest of the championship. Two weeks ago, during testing, I wasn’t feeling comfortable, but my team and Ducati worked hard, and we improved so much. I’m happy with the podium, and now we turn our focus to Assen!”

🥉 P3 – Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

“Overall, today was really positive. The Superpole Race allowed me to recover several positions, which was crucial after missing out on race time yesterday. At the start of Race 2, I was still adapting to the pace, but once I found my rhythm, I felt more comfortable. I tried to stay with Toprak and Nico, but after a few laps, I couldn’t match their speed. Still, I’m pleased with the podium finish and the progress we made with the new tyre. We’ve identified areas to improve, and now we’ll analyze the data to keep making steps forward. Small details can make a big difference, and I’m confident we can continue to fight at the front.”

Looking Ahead: Next Stop, Assen

With Portimão in the books, all eyes now turn to the TT Circuit Assen. Will Razgatlioglu continue his momentum and close the gap further in the title race? Can Bulega extend his championship lead? And will Bautista find the extra pace needed to challenge for victory?

The battle for the 2025 WorldSBK crown is heating up—don’t miss the action in the Netherlands!

Race 2 Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’39.614
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.195s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.512s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +6.617s
5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +7.478s
6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +10.155s

Bendsneyder Claims First-Ever Career Victory

Bo Bendsneyder Secures First World Championship Victory in Thrilling Race

A Well-Earned Triumph After a Tough Start

Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) overcame a challenging opening lap to claim his first-ever World Championship victory in style. Starting from the front row, the Dutchman initially slipped down to seventh place, but he steadily worked his way through the field. By Lap 13, he seized the lead and never looked back.

With precise race management, Bendsneyder delivered his fastest lap on Lap 15 of 17, demonstrating both patience and skill. As the checkered flag waved, he crossed the line with a commanding two-second advantage over Stefano Manzi, marking a landmark moment in his career.

Manzi Celebrates a Double Podium Weekend on His Birthday

Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing’s Stefano Manzi had plenty to celebrate this weekend. Not only did he secure back-to-back podium finishes, but he also extended his championship lead to 13 points. The Italian spent most of the race battling in an intense eight-rider scrap but ultimately held firm in second place. Though he couldn’t mount a late challenge on Bendsneyder, his consistency kept him in control of the title race.

Booth-Amos Battles to a Podium Finish

Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) rounded out the podium after a determined performance. The British rider engaged in a fierce battle with Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) in the closing laps, eventually making a decisive move to secure third place. His late-race pace proved crucial in securing a valuable podium finish.

Heartbreak for Can Öncü After Early Race Lead

Race 1 winner Can Öncü (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) looked strong in the early stages, converting his pole position into an early lead. However, his hopes of a repeat victory came crashing down—literally—on Lap 9, when he lost control and slid out at Turn 1. It was a disappointing end to what had started as a promising race for the Turkish rider.

P1 – Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse)

_”It’s an amazing feeling to take this victory. The pace here is incredibly fast, but today I realized that I wasn’t just fighting for second—I was fighting for the win. I felt much better on the bike compared to yesterday, so I stayed calm and tried to manage the front tire. When the pace started to drop, I pushed to catch and overtake the others. From that moment on, I just gave everything I had.

With six laps to go, I told myself, ‘it’s time to push.’ I was expecting Stefano to attack me again like yesterday, but he didn’t. It’s incredible to take this victory with MV Agusta, and now the next race is my home round in Assen!”_

Bendsneyder’s triumph marks a huge milestone in his career, and with his home race up next, the Dutch rider will have the added motivation of racing in front of a passionate crowd at Assen. Will he carry this momentum into another standout performance? The championship battle just got even more exciting!

Race 2 Results

1. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 29’22.573
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +2.348s
3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +3.443s
4. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +3.684s
5. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +3.900s
6. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +4.062s

Fernandez Secures Victory for KOVE

Fernandez Clinches Thrilling Victory for KOVE in Debut Weekend

A Nail-Biting Last-Lap Battle

In a breathtaking final lap showdown featuring ten riders, Benat Fernandez emerged victorious by a razor-thin margin of just 0.018 seconds. The Team#109 Retro Traffic KOVE rider claimed a sensational win in his debut weekend in the Supersport 300 World Championship. After securing Superpole on Friday and finishing fourth in Race 1, the 17-year-old Spaniard capped off a remarkable weekend with a dramatic last-lap triumph.

Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) continued his strong form, securing his second consecutive runner-up finish of the weekend. The Spaniard claimed his eighth career podium, finishing just ahead of his teammate Antonio Torres, mirroring their Race 1 results.

Drama on the Final Lap

The race took a dramatic turn when Race 1 winner Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) suffered a heavy crash at Turn 1 on the final lap. The incident occurred following contact with his teammate Phillip Tonn, which also led to a collision with Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing), sending the Brazilian rider tumbling as well.

Earlier in the race, Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) saw his weekend go from bad to worse. The Italian, who had previously dominated in Portimão with five consecutive victories, crashed out on Lap 2 after an incident with Faerozi Toreqottullah (ProGP NitiRacing) at Turn 8. As a result, Gennai left the opening round without scoring a single point.

Championship Standings After Round 1

With two second-place finishes, Julio Garcia now leads the championship by just two points over Fernandez, with Torres sitting in third.

P1 – Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic KOVE)

*”That was a crazy race! I was constantly overtaking, and I still don’t know how I managed to pull it off. On the last lap, I had to go from the inside to the outside in the battle for position. I was second coming into the last corner, so I focused on getting the perfect slipstream in the final sector. I sacrificed my entry speed into the last turn so that I could get on the throttle earlier, and that decision paid off.

I caught the slipstream and launched like a rocket to the finish line! This is my first-ever race in the Supersport 300 class, and I wasn’t expecting to achieve this result. It’s an unbelievable feeling. The work my team has put in has been absolutely incredible!”*

With the championship battle already heating up, all eyes will be on Fernandez, Garcia, and Torres as they head into the next round. Will Fernandez build on his momentum, or will Garcia extend his points lead? The season is only just getting started!

Race 2 Results

1. Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) 1’55.021
2. Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) +0.018s
3. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina XCI) +0.095s
4. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) +0.121s
5. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) +0.133s
6. Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) +0.166s

Official WorldSBK Press Release