Toprak Razgatlioglu is edging closer to securing the title after dominating Race 1 at the 2024 Estoril WorldSBK, marking his 16th win this season.
The Turkish rider, representing the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, crossed the finish line with a remarkable nine-second lead, marking a significant return to form after his recent struggles following a crash at Magny-Cours in September.
This win places Razgatlioglu firmly on the path to potentially clinching his second WorldSBK title.
The race unfolded under challenging conditions, with the track still showing signs of dampness from earlier rain. As the lights went out, Razgatlioglu initially lost his lead at Turn 1 to Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Locatelli, who made aggressive moves to assert their positions.
Jonathan Rea, riding for Pata Prometeon Yamaha, also surged ahead reclaiming his qualifying spot from Razgatlioglu as they navigated through the slow chicane.
However, it was not long before Razgatlioglu regained control. By Lap 2, Locatelli executed a daring dive on Petrucci to take second place, while Razgatlioglu and Rea engaged in a fierce battle for third. Rea’s aggressive maneuvers forced Nicolo Bulega off track, pushing him down to eighth place behind two Kawasaki riders and teammate Alvaro Bautista.
As the race progressed into Lap 3, Razgatlioglu made his move on Petrucci and quickly overtook Locatelli by the end of the straight, reclaiming the lead. Bautista and Alex Lowes then began their charge through the field, overtaking Petrucci and Rea by Lap 5 to secure third and fifth positions respectively.
The race’s intensity peaked on Lap 6 when both Rea and Bulega capitalized on Lowes’ slower exit from Turn 1, allowing them to advance. But it wasn’t long before the Ducati riders demonstrated their straight-line speed advantage on Lap 7 as both Bautista and Bulega lunged past Locatelli and Rea.
However, Bautista’s race took a tragic turn when he crashed out from second place on Lap 8, ending any hopes of retaining his championship title for another year. With the reigning champion out of contention and Locatelli following suit shortly after due to another crash, Iker Lecuona seized the opportunity to rise through the ranks.
Lecuona had been battling fiercely with Rea during the mid-stages of the race, showcasing impressive skill as they swapped positions multiple times. Ultimately, the Spaniard prevailed in the duel and secured third place.
Razgatlioglu’s dominance became evident as he maintained a significant gap over Bulega and Lecuona in the latter stages of the race. The Turkish rider’s performance was nothing short of spectacular; he exhibited not only speed but also strategic prowess as he navigated through traffic with ease.
Bulega managed to recover from an early setback that saw him drop to eighth place. He fought hard against Rea for several laps before finally breaking free to chase down Lecuona.
Despite his best efforts, the Italian could not close the gap to Razgatlioglu but finished a commendable second place—an important result that allowed him to gather vital championship points.
In contrast, Lecuona’s podium finish marked a significant achievement for Honda, as it was their first appearance on the podium since Assen in 2022. This result not only highlighted Lecuona’s growing prowess but also brought renewed hope for Honda fans who have been waiting for competitive performances from their riders.
Lowes finished just outside the podium in fourth place after an impressive ride that saw him fend off challenges from Rea and others throughout the race. The former teammate of Rea showed strong pace but ultimately could not find a way past Lecuona or Bulega.
Rea himself managed to secure fifth place after facing intense competition throughout the race despite setting the fastest time in FP3. His experience shone through as he navigated through various challenges posed by younger riders like Bulega and Lecuona.
Garrett Gerloff delivered a remarkable performance by recovering from a poor grid position (17th) to finish sixth. His late-race pace was commendable as he maneuvered through various competitors to secure valuable points for BMW.
Michael van der Mark finished seventh after battling hard with Gerloff in the closing laps. Xavi Vierge placed eighth, ensuring both Honda riders finished within the top ten—a significant achievement for Team HRC.
Andrea Iannone and Tito Rabat rounded out the top ten positions after demonstrating resilience throughout a challenging race. Rabat’s performance was particularly noteworthy as he started from 23rd position and managed to climb up through the ranks impressively.
2024 Estoril WorldSBK Race 1 Results
