Gordon Ritchie | October 13, 2024
Sunday WorldSBK Race Two
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) won the final WorldSBK Race at Estoril to take a 46 point lead over rookie rider Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) with just one round, three races and a maximum possible 62 points for any rider who can win all three Jerez races next week.
It’s match point, in other words, even although Bulega won Sunday’s earlier Superpole race.
In the final Estoril Race Two, over 21-laps, Razgatlioglu’s early periods were spent in anything between fifth place and second. When he took the lead on lap seven no-one could get near him as he took win number 17 for the season. He won the final race by an official 3.866 seconds, but it was 5.5 seconds until he celebrated across the line with an outrageously long stand-up wheelie.
Normal service resumed in race two with an easy win for Toprak.
Behind, Bulega was pressurised by early leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) after both Toprak and Bulega had got past him, but there was no last lap attempt to pass with the championship possibilities still at least a little alive.
Behind the podium riders, Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) had a positive result in fourth place, if a lonely 12 seconds back.
Fifth was the tall figure of Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), followed by top Honda finisher Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) and then Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati).
The top ten was finished off by Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven Ducati) in eighth, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) and top Kawasaki rider in the race, Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team).
We enter the final round in a few days time with Toprak on 473 points, Bulega a full 46 points adrift on 427 and Bautista with 376.
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—WorldSSP Race Two
| 1 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) |
|
| 2 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+3.866s |
| 3 |
Álvaro Bautista |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+3.998s |
| 4 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Pata Prometeon Yamaha) |
+12.005s |
| 5 |
Michael van der Mark |
(ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) |
+15.209s |
Sunday WorldSSP Race Two
When Race Two leader Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) fell and could not get back on his bike it seemed like the championship was all over, with Adrian Huertas (Aruba Racing Ducati) surely already crowned due to his significant points lead?
The slight issue for him was that he still needed to win the race to make sure the title would be won at this round, and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was in a lead that he would not relinquish.
Montella’s crash meant Manzi took the win and halted Huertas’ championship party.
Huertas had been fifth on lap one, but Montella was already long gone out front until his crash on lap 11, with Manzi running in second and Huertas third.
The final podium order after Montella’s no-score was Manzi, Huertas and the ever-aggressive Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha), who won a French fight with Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha).
In his first WorldSSP weekend as an MV rider, Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR) was fifth in Race Two, with private MV runner Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing MV Agusta) sixth.
Glenn van Straalen (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was seventh and recent new R6 rider, Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Thailand) placed eighth. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Ducati) and Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) were the final riders in the top ten.
Huertas leaves Estoril with a 45 point lead and no longer over Montella but Manzi, who is in turn 11 points ahead of Montella. A maximum of 50 points to play for at Jerez next week, but only for any rider who can win both races.
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—WorldSSP Race Two
| 1 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) |
|
| 2 |
Adrián Huertas |
(Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) |
+2.506s |
| 3 |
Valentin Debise |
(Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) |
+4.103 |
| 4 |
Lucas Mahias |
(GMT94 Yamaha) |
+4.351s |
| 5 |
Bo Bendsneyder |
(MV Agusta Reparto Corse) |
+7.670s |
Sunday WorldSBK Superpole Race
After losing more and more championship ground to Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) since Toprak’s return from injury at Motorland Aragon, sheer doggedness and a new lap record of 1’36.168 on the eighth lap gave Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) the Superpole Race victory at Estoril – by a tiny 0.003 seconds from his great rival.
Nose to nose, but Bulega triumphed over, Razgatlioglu in the closest ever WorldSBK race margin.
Bulega’s narrow margin made this the closest ever race in WorldSBK since its inception in 1988.
Behind Razgatlioglu exiting the final curve Bulega showed his racecraft – and in fairness his Ducati’s pure power and corner exit drive – to only just catch and pass Razgatlioglu at the line.
Over 4.2 seconds behind, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put himself into the final podium stop by powering past long time podium fighter, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team). Bautista’s best top speed best in this race was 328.3kmph, which translates to almost 204mph.
Fifth was one time potential winner, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati), after Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) crashed and finished 22nd. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was sixth and a fully committed Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) seventh. His team-mate Iker Lecuona was one place behind, with the Superpole Race top ten finished off by Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven Ducati) and Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW).
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—WorldSBK Superpole Race
| 1 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
|
| 2 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) |
+0.003s |
| 3 |
Álvaro Bautista |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+4.253s |
| 4 |
Andrea Locatelli |
(Pata Prometeon Yamaha) |
+5.623s |
| 5 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
+7.161s |
Sunday WorldWCR Race Two
Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) was part of yet another close front-running battle in the WorldWCR championship but this time it was her who came out on top – and for the first time – from Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) second and Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) third.
The top two were separated by just 0.032 seconds. The top three were covered by just 0.164 seconds. Even in fourth place, Beatriz Neila (Ampito/Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was only 0.310 seconds from the win.
Sara Sanchez triumphed for the first time in WorldWCR’s race two.
Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) secured fifth place, but was over ten seconds down on the winner Sanchez. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) was sixth and American rider Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) seventh.
Astrid Madrigal (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA) placed eighth.
Isis Carreno (AD78 FIM LatinoAmerica by Team GP3) and Adela Ourednickova (DaftMotoracing by Smrz) completed the top ten in a race that Aussie rider Tayla Relph (TAYCO Motorsport) crashed out of, while in sixth position.
Sanchez became the third rider to win in this new category of racing but the title fight is (realistically) now only between Carrasco with 208 points and Herrera with 190. Sanchez is now 42 points from the lead. A full 50 points left for two wins at the final round in Jerez in a week’s time.
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—WorldWCR Race Two
| 1 |
Sara Sanchez |
(511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) |
|
| 2 |
Ana Carrasco |
(Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) |
+0.032s |
| 3 |
Maria Herrera |
(Klint Forward Factory Team) |
+0.164s |
| 4 |
Beatriz Neila |
(Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) |
+0.310s |
| 5 |
Roberta Ponziani |
(Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) |
+10.596s |
Saturday WorldSBK Race One
The race action in The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship got underway on Saturday afternoon, as twenty-four riders lined up onto the gird for the 21-lap race. Despite a pole position start, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was unable to hold onto first at lights out, as Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed the hole shot into Turn 1of Italian rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) who had a rocket start off the line. Toprak followed through in third position on the opening lap, but it was the Yamaha bikes that were strong from the outset as Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) overtook the title leader into third.
Locatelli demonstrated his early race pace as he took the lead from Petrucci on lap 2, whilst further back, stable mates Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) battled for fifth. It was a four-way fight for the podium spots out in front as Locatelli, Petrucci, Razgatlioglu and Rea exchanged positions. Bulega ran wide out onto the circuit with 19 laps remaining, falling to eighth position, and undoing his work earlier in the race.
Easy does it for Razgatlioglu in race one.
With 17 laps race distance remaining, Razgatlioglu made his move into first place ahead of the #55, whilst Bautista rode into third ahead of Petrucci and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Bautista demonstrated some strong race pace, with spectators hoping a battle for first with the #54 may unfold, however the BMW rider responded to the pressure, managing to gap the field as the race progressed. Meanwhile Ducati’s Bulega made his way back up through the pack, chasing Locatelli for a podium position.
With 17 laps race distance remaining, Razgatlioglu made his move into first place ahead of the #55, whilst Bautista rode into third ahead of Petrucci and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Bautista demonstrated some strong race pace, with spectators hoping a battle for first with the #54 may unfold, however the BMW rider responded to the pressure, managing to gap the field as the race progressed. Meanwhile Ducati’s Bulega made his way back up through the pack, chasing Locatelli for a podium position.
An early race crash for Australian Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) resulted in the rider being declared unfit due to a left wrist fracture. A crash at Turn 7, on Lap 7 for #9 Petrucci ended his streak of 12 races in the top five, and there was more drama as four laps later Bautista low sided on the entry to turn 9, meaning his Championship hopes are no more. His teammate, Bulega moved into second shortly before Locatelli took a fall out of his rostrum position with 7 laps to go.
It was Razgatlioglu who stormed to victory at the Portuguese track, as Bulega held onto second, whilst an impressive ride from Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) put Honda back on the rostrum, achieving their first podium of the season, the first time since Mandalika last year. British rider Alex Lowes secured fourth place ahead of Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) who rounded off the top 6. The afternoon’s Race 1 witnessed the first race with five different manufacturers in the top 5 since last year.
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—WorldSBK Race One
| 1 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) |
|
| 2 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+9.221s |
| 3 |
Iker Lecuona |
(Team HRC) |
+11.020s |
| 4 |
Alex Lowes |
(Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) |
+11.973s |
| 5 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Pata Prometeon Yamaha) |
+14.018s |
Saturday WorldSSP Race One
With the championship still alive for Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) he rode from pole position with full commitment in the first race at Estoril, pushing all the way to a 1.321 second win over championship leader, Adrian Huertas (Aruba Racing Ducati).
Third place went to the always-committed Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha), although he was to finish over fours seconds down on second placed Huertas.
Montella kept his title hopes alive with the race one win.
Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) was on strong form and finished up fourth, albeit 17 seconds from the winner.
After Valentin Debise (Evan Bros WorldSSP) had crashed out, Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing MV Agusta) took his MV Agusta triple to fifth, ahead of the official one of Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). Simoni Corsi (Renzi Corse Ducati) placed seventh in Race One, ahead of new MV Agusta signing Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR).
Another Netherlands rider, Glenn van Straalen (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was ninth and new Yamaha Thailand rider, Bahattin Sofuoglu, was tenth. Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing Ducati) was 11th. Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing MV Agusta) had to stop for a technical issue while Tom Edwards (D34G Racing Ducati) fell on lap one. Lead Kawasaki rider Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was injured on Friday and did not compete in Race One.
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—WorldSSP Race One
| 1 |
Yari Montella |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
|
| 2 |
Adrián Huertas |
(Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) |
+1.321s |
| 3 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) |
+5.391s |
| 4 |
Lucas Mahias |
(GMT94 Yamaha) |
+17.164s |
| 5 |
Federico Caricasulo |
(Motozoo ME AIR Racing) |
+22.548s |
Saturday WorldSBK Superpole
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took the Superpole trophy at a damp and tricky Estoril, easing out the late privateer push of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) by just 0.082 seconds, in a session that saw a lot crashes, even from top riders.
This was Razgatlioglu’s 18th career pole, placing him a stand-alone sixth in the all-time Superpole rankings.
Toprak Razgatlioglu eased clear for the Superpole win.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) had a strong session and took third place on the grid, for the last place on the front row for Race One today and the Superpole Race on Sunday.
Rea’s team-mate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) placed fourth, with the top official Ducati belonging to Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in fifth. Michael van der Mark rounded out the top six on the same BMW as Razgatlioglu.
Both Lowes brothers ended up on row three, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Ducati) seventh and early faller Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) ninth. In the tricky track conditions, which levelled the playing field to a degree, Tarran Mackenzie (MIE Racing Honda Team) split the Lowes brothers by finishing eighth fastest.
Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team) was tenth and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha)
16th and Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 17th. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashed and then finished 11th on the grid.
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—WorldSBK Superpole
| 1 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) |
1:52.512s |
| 2 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
+0.082s |
| 3 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Pata Prometeon Yamaha) |
+0.509s |
| 4 |
Andrea Locatelli |
(Pata Prometeon Yamaha) |
+0.927s |
| 5 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+0.999s |
Friday WorldSBK
On a not fully dry track surface the second WorldSBK free practice session got underway under consistently grey skies at the long-stablished Estoril circuit
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took an early lead in FP2. This was to prove to be the only practice session that counted towards combined qualifying times, as all riders went faster in the drier sector of the afternoon session.
Razgatlioglu went fastest in mixed conditions on Friday in WorldSBK.
Rains arrived to cause a premature end to the meaningful track action with less than 20 minutes still left to run. A very few riders went out just before the end of the session, despite the wet conditions, just to get a feel for the track again.
Behind Razgatlioglu, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) was second and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) third.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fourth fastest and Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) a strong fifth.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a near highside in FP2 but stayed on to finish the opening day – his first on an WorldSBK machine at this venue – sixth fastest.
Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team) placed seventh, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) eighth, Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) ninth and Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) tenth.
FP3, Superpole qualifying and then Race One will all take place on Saturday 12 October.
2024 Portuguese WorldSBK Results—Friday
| 1 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) |
1:37.355s |
| 2 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
+0.710s |
| 3 |
Alex Lowes |
(Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) |
+0.719s |
| 4 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+0.892s |
| 5 |
Iker Lecuona |
(Team HRC) |
+0.894s |
Friday WorldSSP
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) won the battle to take the best possible grid position for Race One on Saturday ahead of championship leader Adrian Huertas (Aruba Racing Ducati) after a wet Superpole qualifying session.
Track conditions were such that the lap times from even the best riders were well over ten seconds off record pace, continuing the theme of a difficult start to the penultimate weekend of the year.
Raffaele De Rosa made a little slice of history with the first fastest time for the factory QJMotor team.
Behind the leading Ducati duo Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) continued his strong showings with third best time, ahead of another 2024 regular contender, Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha).
Assen race winner Glenn van Straalen (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was fifth fastest, with the fourth Yamaha rider inside the six being Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha).
Occasional WorldSSP rider Simoni Corsi (Renzi Corse Ducati) placed seventh in Superpole, Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph) was eighth and Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Ducati) ninth. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing MV Agusta) was the first MV rider on the grid for Saturday’s 18-lap race, and tenth fastest.
Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing Ducati) was 11th, Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing MV Agusta) 22nd and hard early faller Tom Edwards (D34G Racing Ducati) placed 24th, despite suffering a contusion on his left thigh.
2024 Portuguese WorldSSP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Raffaele De Rosa |
(QJMOTOR Factory Racing) |
1:56.918s |
| 2 |
Yari Montella |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
+0.049s |
| 3 |
Valentin Debise |
(Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) |
+0.414s |
| 4 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Orelac Racing Verdnatura) |
+0.786s |
| 5 |
Bo Bendsneyder |
(MV Agusta Reparto Corse) |
+0.820s |
Friday WorldWCR
Overnight and early morning wet weather conditions threatened to halt any action on day one at Estoril, with heavy rains and mist reducing visibility and the available light.
The action did get underway in FP1, after the conditions had slightly improved. After a still-damp Superpole Qualifying session in the afternoon, Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) was the fastest rider, 0.359 seconds up on her number one challenger for the title itself, Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team).
Carrasco fastest, Dobbs in ninth in WorldWCR.
Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) completed a familiar looking top four of Spanish riders.
The first non-Iberian was Australia’s Tayla Relph (TAYCO Motorsport) in fifth place, albeit 2.2 seconds back on Carrasco.
Another proven podium finisher, Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team), placed sixth, and only just behind Relph.
Mexico’s Astrid Madrigal (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA) leads the riders on row three for Saturday’s race, and will be joined by Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) and American rider, Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team). Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) completed the pre-race top ten.
Saturday 12 October will host the first of two 12-lap races at this penultimate round of the championship.
2024 Portuguese WorldWCR Results—Friday
| 1 |
Ana Carrasco |
(Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) |
1:51.706s |
| 2 |
María Herrera |
(Klint Forward Factory Team) |
+0.359s |
| 3 |
Beatriz Neila |
(Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) |
+1.907s |
| 4 |
Sara Sánchez |
(511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) |
+1.918s |
| 5 |
Tayla Relph |
(TAYCO Motorsport) |
+2.232s |
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