Toprak Razgatlioglu showcased his exceptional talent and determination during the Friday practice sessions for the 2024 Estoril WorldSBK firmly establishing himself as the rider to beat.
The Turkish star, competing for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, dominated both Free Practice One (FP1) and Free Practice Two (FP2), setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of racing.
The day began under challenging conditions as riders faced a thick layer of fog and treacherous wet track surfaces in FP1. These conditions led to a flurry of crashes, with several riders finding themselves in the gravel.
However, Razgatlioglu remained composed and focused, navigating the slippery track with skill and precision. He clocked a remarkable lap time of 1:52.344, finishing over 0.3 seconds ahead of his closest rival Danilo Petrucci from the Barni Spark Racing Team, who finished second with a time of 1:52.650.
Alex Lowes managed to secure third place despite a late crash that hindered his potential for an even better time. Tarran Mackenzie, riding for Petronas MIE Racing Honda, finished fourth, while six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea placed fifth on his Pata Prometeon Yamaha.
As the day progressed into FP2, the weather conditions shifted slightly, with the track drying out before rain returned towards the end of the session.
Razgatlioglu continued to impress, setting a blistering time of 1:37.355 during this session. His performance was characterized by consistency and speed, as he maintained a significant gap of over seven tenths to Danilo Petrucci once again, who finished second in FP2 as well.
Completing the same top three as Free Practice One was Alex Lowes in third place on the timesheets. Alvaro Bautista from Aruba.it Racing Ducati finished fourth in FP2 after a solid performance that showcased his competitive edge.
Iker Lecuona followed closely behind in fifth place, confirming Honda HRC’s strong showing despite teammate Xavi Vierge suffering a minor fall earlier in the session.
Nicholas Bulega’s performance was also noteworthy; he secured sixth place overall after recovering from a crash during FP1. His resilience is commendable as he aims to keep pace with Razgatlioglu in the championship standings.
Championship challenger Nicolo Bulega finished sixth as Axel Bassani came in seventh on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, demonstrating competitive form heading into the races.
Bonovo Action BMW rider, Garrett Gerloff, ended his day in eighth place ahead of Team HRC’s Xavi Vierge in ninth with Jonathan Rea rounding out the top ten.
The day’s practice sessions set up an intriguing narrative for the upcoming races at Estoril. Razgatlioglu is not only looking to secure victories but also aiming to extend his lead in the championship standings.
With a potential match point looming over him this weekend—given that he could leave Estoril with at least a 62-point lead—there is significant pressure on him to perform.
The unpredictable weather conditions added another layer of complexity to the race weekend. With forecasts indicating possible rain on Saturday morning followed by clearer skies in the afternoon, teams had to strategize accordingly regarding tire choices and setup adjustments.
