Rising again: Iannone seals first WorldSBK victory in Aragon
Tissot Superpole Highlights
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated the 15-minute Tissot Superpole session, claiming his second consecutive pole position. The rookie broke the lap record at Motorland Aragon with a time of 1’47.840, securing pole by over three-tenths of a second.
Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) secured a front-row start for the fifth time in 2024 aboard his Ducati Panigale V4R. Ducati completed a historic 1-2-3-4 lockout on the grid for the first time since 2004.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) qualified on the front row for the first time this season, while Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) returned to action after his French Round crash, qualifying in fifth place.
Race 1 Highlights
Race 1 was red-flagged due to a crash involving Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) at Turn 5. After a Quick Restart Procedure, pole-sitter Nicolo Bulega retired with a technical issue during the warm-up lap.
Once the 17-lap race commenced, Andrea Iannone took the holeshot, leading a nine-rider pack for the first third of the race. Despite being briefly overtaken by compatriot Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) on Lap 8, Iannone swiftly regained the lead and dominated the race, becoming the eighth different winner of 2024. He set the fastest lap on the penultimate tour, marking his first career win and making him the fourth first-time winner of the season.
Returning after six races, Toprak Razgatlioglu held a consistent position within the podium contenders but never led a lap. He finished in second place, securing 20 critical points for his championship fight.
Despite starting from the fourth row, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) steadily moved through the field. He capitalized on retirements and passed both Razgatlioglu and Bautista, securing his second podium of the season. Gerloff engaged in a close battle with Razgatlioglu in the final laps but ultimately settled for third.
Alvaro Bautista had a challenging start, dropping to sixth after the first lap. He gradually improved his pace and fought his way up to fourth by Lap 10. Although Bautista posted some of the fastest laps, he couldn’t close the gap to the podium positions, finishing just under half a second behind Razgatlioglu.
Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge continued Honda’s strong form, finishing inside the top ten for the seventh consecutive race. Lecuona, after starting from the third row, claimed a solid sixth place.
Championship Standings
- Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the standings with a 33-point advantage over Nicolo Bulega, while Alvaro Bautista sits 56 points behind.
- In the Independent Rider Standings, Danilo Petrucci holds a significant 87-point lead over Andrea Iannone.
- Ducati extends its lead over BMW in the Manufacturer Standings by 34 points.
Race Winner Quotes
P1 | Andrea Iannone | Team GoEleven
“From the start, I struggled with the front tire, but lap by lap, I started to feel more confident. In the last five or six laps, I really hit my stride. Winning today wasn’t just about the race; it was about my journey. I never gave up, and today I proved my strength. To come back after so long and win is a dream come true. I fought hard for four years to return, and I couldn’t imagine winning in my first year back. Huge thanks to Ducati and Team GoEleven for their incredible support.”
P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“Finishing on the podium after that big crash is amazing, but I’m not completely satisfied. I couldn’t push for the win in the final laps because my front tire was wearing out. Andrea was riding incredibly well, and I could only hold on for second. The engine braking was a bit tricky, and I was on the limit the entire race. We’ll make some adjustments for tomorrow’s races and try to fight for the win.”
P3 | Garrett Gerloff | Bonovo Action BMW
“I felt great towards the end and thought I might catch up with Andrea and Toprak. I tried to stay calm and focus, but I couldn’t close the gap in the final laps. When Alvaro passed me on the last lap, I thought, ‘I’m not giving up another podium,’ so I pushed hard and reclaimed third. The bike felt fantastic, and I’m hopeful we can maintain this momentum for the upcoming races.”
This round sets the stage for a thrilling continuation of the 2024 WorldSBK season, with fierce battles in both the Championship and Independent Rider Standings. Tune in for more action as the riders face off in Race 2 tomorrow!
WorldSBK Race 1 Results
1. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.845s
3. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +1.124s
4. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.190s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +2.528s
6. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +4.758s
Championship Standings
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 385 points
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 352 points
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 296 points
WorldSSP Tenth win of the season for Huertas
Supersport Race 1: Adrian Huertas Secures Dominant Lights-to-Flag Victory
Starting from pole, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) claimed a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening race of the Supersport weekend. The Spaniard faced pressure throughout the race, but with four laps to go, he created a decisive one-second gap to secure his win.
Battle for Second Intensifies
The fight for second place was a thrilling three-way battle for most of the race. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), who began from the second row and is currently second in the championship standings, held the runner-up spot until two-thirds distance. As the race progressed, the competition heated up.
Both Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) surged ahead of Montella in the final laps. The fierce contest between Manzi and Debise for second place was only decided at the finish line, with Manzi edging out Debise by just one-tenth of a second.
Looking Ahead to Race 2
Manzi’s strong performance earned him pole position for Race 2, followed by Debise and Montella. Despite his victory, Huertas will start from fourth on the grid.
Key Points:
- Pole Position: Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
- Race 1 Winner: Adrian Huertas
- Fastest Lap: Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 1’52.797
P1 | Adrian Huertas | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team:
“Race 1 was fantastic. We had incredible pace today, and everything came together perfectly. The team worked hard, and I think we managed the race excellently. I believe we have even more potential for tomorrow, so let’s keep pushing for more wins! It’s amazing to achieve 10 victories this season with Ducati and this team. Tomorrow, I’ll aim for another strong start and stay in the fight with the leading group.”
WorldSSP Race 1 Results
1. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +1.929s
3. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +2.062s
4. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +2.706s
5. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) +7.332s
6. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +9.384s
Championship Standings
1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 359 points
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 304 points
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 304 points
WorldSSP300 Third win of the season for Iglesias as title battle heats up
Inigo Iglesias Claims Third Win of the Season at Motorland Aragon in Thrilling Photo Finish
Starting from ninth position, Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki) delivered a stunning home victory in the WorldSSP300 race at Motorland Aragon. In a thrilling finish, Iglesias claimed his third win of the season by just 0.041 seconds, sealing the victory in a photo finish.
Julio Garcia Gonzalez Narrowly Misses Victory
Despite leading for four laps, Julio Garcia Gonzalez (KOVE Racing Team) was edged out in the final dash to the line, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind Iglesias. The 18-year-old Spaniard secured his third podium of the season after starting from fifth on the grid. However, Garcia Gonzalez will face a tougher challenge in Race 2, as he is set to start from 13th position.
Loris Veneman’s Eventful Race
Pole sitter Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) dropped to sixth place on the opening lap but fought hard throughout the race. The recently turned 18-year-old held his nerve in a dramatic battle, finishing just ahead of his championship rival Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) by less than a tenth of a second. Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) separated the title contenders, making for an action-packed race.
Gustavo Manso’s Career-Best Performance
Gustavo Manso (Yamaha AD78 FIM LA by MS Racing) achieved a career-best seventh place, setting the fastest lap of the race with a time of 2’06.396. Manso’s impressive performance earned him pole position for Race 2, setting him up for a potential breakthrough.
Championship Standings Tighten
With three races remaining, Aldi Mahendra retains the championship lead, but only 12 points now separate the top three contenders, making for an intense championship battle.
Key Points:
- Pole Position: Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki)
- Race 1 Winner: Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki)
- Fastest Lap: Gustavo Manso (Yamaha AD78 FIM LA by MS Racing) – 2’06.396
P1 | Inigo Iglesias | Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki:
“After a few rounds of bad luck, I’m back! The race was crazy, just like every 300 race, but I managed to stay in the leading group. I felt the support from my teammate Carter, who was fighting with me. Winning at my home round was special, especially with my people here. I pushed like crazy on the last lap to secure the win and keep my championship hopes alive. I told my team we need to give everything to win this title because I believe I deserve it. Tomorrow, we’ll fight for the top spot again, and then we’ll see what happens in Jerez.”
WorldSSP300 Race 1 Results
1. Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki)
2. Julio García (KOVE Racing Team) +0.010s
3. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.041s
4. Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) +0.052s
5. Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) +0.140s
6. Carter Thompson (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) +0.169s
Championship Standings
1. Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) 175 points
2. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) 168 points
3. Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) 163 points
WorldSBK action resumes on Sunday with Warm Up from 9:00 (Local Time), followed by Tissot Superpole Race at 11:00 and Race 2 at 15:30, while WorldSSP action continues on Sunday with Race 1 from 9:45, and Race 2 at 14:00. WorldSSP300‘s Warm Up will be at 9:20 followed by Race 2 at 12:45.
Official WorldSBK Press Release
