Toprak Razgatlioglu concluded the 2024 World Superbike season in spectacular fashion with a thrilling victory in Race 2 at the Jerez WorldSBK, marking his first win as a two-time champion.
The race, held on October 20, 2024, was characterized by intense competition and strategic maneuvers that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Starting from second position, Razgatlioglu faced a formidable challenge from Nicolo Bulega, who had already established himself as a dominant force earlier in the weekend. The Aruba.it Racing Ducati star had claimed victory in Race 1 and was eager to secure a hat trick with a win in Race 2.
The race began under clear blue skies, and Bulega shot off the line with an impressive start, taking the hole shot ahead of Razgatlioglu and Andrea Locatelli from Pata Prometeon Yamaha.
As the race progressed into its early laps, Razgatlioglu quickly asserted his dominance over the field. By lap three, he executed a bold maneuver at Turn 1 to overtake Bulega, seizing the lead and setting the pace for the remainder of the race.
Despite Razgatlioglu’s initial advantage, Bulega remained close on his tail, keeping the pressure on as they navigated through the twists and turns of the Jerez circuit.
The battle for third place was equally fierce, with Razgatlioglu’s teammate at ROKiT BMW Motorrad Michael van der Mark engaged in a thrilling tussle with Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes and Team Go Eleven’s Andrea Iannone.
Van der Mark managed to fend off their advances and solidify his position on the podium as he maintained a steady pace throughout the race.
As they approached the halfway mark, it became evident that Razgatlioglu was struggling slightly with tire management. He reported losing grip on his front tire during several corners but remained confident in his ability to control the bike and maintain his lead.
Meanwhile, Bulega found some late-race pace and began to close the gap on Razgatlioglu. With just four laps remaining, it looked like there might be a thrilling showdown for victory.
However, disaster struck when Philipp Oettl’s GMT94 Yamaha suffered a mechanical failure on the front straight. The resulting smoke and fluid on the track prompted Race Direction to throw a red flag, halting the race prematurely.
With more than two-thirds of the race completed, officials declared Razgatlioglu the winner under these circumstances. The victory not only capped off an incredible season for the Turkish rider but also marked a significant milestone for BMW as it was their first win at Jerez in WorldSBK history.
Razgatlioglu’s triumph brought his career win tally to an impressive 57 victories.
Finishing just behind him was Bulega in second place, who missed out on achieving his goal of three wins at the 2024 Jerez WorldSBK but still left with valuable points and experience for future races.
Van der Mark rounded out the podium in third place, celebrating a strong finish after what has been a challenging season for him.
Andrea Iannone finished fourth after recovering from an earlier mistake that saw him drop down in positions. He had been battling hard for third but ultimately had to settle for fourth when the red flag came out.
Alex Lowes secured fifth place, which was crucial for him as it ensured he finished fourth in the overall championship standings. Danilo Petrucci crossed the line in sixth place, solidifying his fifth-place finish in the championship overall standings.
Garrett Gerloff took seventh place in what was his final race for Bonovo Action BMW before moving to Puccetti Kawasaki for 2025. Andrea Locatelli and Jonathan Rea followed closely behind in eighth and ninth places respectively, while Axel Bassani completed the top ten.
The race was not without its disappointments; Álvaro Bautista had high hopes after starting ninth but faced mechanical issues that forced him wide at Turn 6 early on. Unfortunately for Bautista, he crashed out shortly thereafter, ending his day prematurely.
2024 Jerez WorldSBK Race 2 Results
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