Andrea Locatelli wins Dutch WorldSBK Race 2, title rivals struggle in Assen

Full 2025 Dutch WorldSBK Race 2 Results – Andrea Locatelli clinched his maiden WorldSBK race victory while championship rivals Nicolo Bulega and Toprak Razgatlioglu struggled in Assen.

The race held under clear skies after morning rain was a showcase of resilience, strategy, and the unpredictable nature of motorsport.

The 2025 Dutch WorldSBK Race 2 not only marked a significant milestone for Andrea Locatelli and Pata Maxus Yamaha but also reshaped the championship narrative as technical misfortune struck the early favorite Nicolo Bulega and several other contenders experienced mixed fortunes.

From the outset, anticipation was high as the WorldSBK grid lined up at Assen, a circuit renowned for its fast, flowing corners and rich racing heritage.

The field was stacked with talent, including championship leader Nicolo Bulega, Alvaro Bautista, defending champion and ever-competitive Toprak Razgatlioglu and a host of hungry challengers eager to make their mark.

The morning’s rain had cleared leaving the track dry but with a hint of unpredictability in tire choices and grip levels.

As the lights went out, the initial laps saw a tightly bunched group at the front with as many as seven riders in contention. GYTR GRT Yamaha’s Remy Gardner made an impressive start immediately inserting himself into the leading pack.

Sam Lowes was also in the mix, showing the pace that had earned pole position for ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati earlier in the weekend. Bimota Kawasaki’s Axel Bassani was determined to capitalize on his strong qualifying and early race pace.

Nicolo Bulega who had started from a relatively uncharacteristic tenth position wasted no time in carving his way through the field. The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider demonstrated why he was the championship leader, executing a series of bold overtakes and setting consistently fast lap times.

By the halfway point, Bulega had surged into the lead, stretching the front group and establishing a gap of nearly two seconds. His performance was a masterclass in racecraft, and it appeared he was on course for Dutch WorldSBK Race 2 win, having already triumphed in Race 1.

Behind Bulega, Andrea Locatelli was riding a measured and strategic race. The Pata Maxus Yamaha rider maintained a steady pace, keeping within striking distance of the leaders while managing his tires and conserving energy for the crucial final laps.

As the race entered its final stages, Bulega’s lead seemed unassailable but motorsport is often decided by the smallest of margins and the most unexpected of events.

With just two laps remaining, disaster struck for Bulega after his Ducati suffered a sudden technical failure, forcing him to retire from the race while leading comfortably.

The sudden exit of Bulega handed the lead to Andrea Locatelli, who had been running a solid second. Locatelli seized the opportunity with composure immediately increasing his pace to build a gap over the chasing pack.

By the time he took the checkered flag, Locatelli had established a margin of nearly three seconds over Alvaro Bautista, securing his first-ever WorldSBK race victory in his 153rd start.

The 2025 Dutch WorldSBK Race 2 victory was not only a personal triumph for Locatelli but also a significant achievement for Yamaha, marking only their third win at Assen in the modern era following in the footsteps of Noriyuki Haga in 2000 and Ben Spies in 2009.

Alvaro Bautista crossed the line in second place, salvaging valuable championship points for Ducati. Bautista’s race was characterized by consistency and experience, as he managed his tires and avoided the pitfalls that befell his teammate.

Remy Gardner completed the podium in third, delivering a standout performance for Yamaha. Gardner’s result was particularly noteworthy as it marked his second career WorldSBK podium both achieved at Assen.

Sam Lowes narrowly missed out on a podium finish, coming home in fourth place just 0.4 seconds behind Gardner. Axel Bassani rounded out the top five delivering a season-best result for the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team.

Bassani’s teammate Alex Lowes finished sixth after a late-race battle with Iker Lecuona of Honda HRC. Lecuona who crossed the line in seventh showed flashes of speed and resilience, particularly in the latter stages as he capitalized on the misfortunes of others.

Both riders managed to pass Toprak Razgatlioglu on the final lap as the Turkish star struggled with tire degradation. Razgatlioglu who had opted for the harder SC0 rear tire after experiencing excessive wear with the softer SCX in Race 1 found himself lacking rear grip in the closing laps.

His pace dropped dramatically with lap times nearly two seconds slower than the leaders and he ultimately finished eighth—his worst result since the Superpole Race at Assen in 2024.

Pata GoEleven Ducati’s Andrea Iannone secured ninth place while GYTR GRT Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter completed the top ten.

MORE WORLDSBK:

Dutch WorldSBK Race 1: Dominant Nicolo Bulega wins in Assen

Sam Lowes claims surprise maiden WorldSBK pole in Assen

2025 Dutch WorldSBK Race 2 Results – Assen