The Misano circuit kicked off the Superbike season World SBK Misano 2025 in scorching conditions. Under a bright sun and temperatures exceeding 30°C, the Superbike World Championship riders started the weekend with intensity. The highly anticipated duel between Nicholas Bulega et Toprak Razgatlioglu immediately enlivened the opening day…
Summit duel between Bulega and Razgatlioglu
From the first free practice session (FP1), Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) hit hard. But it is Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who had the last word by setting the best time of the day with a
1'32.722, at the end ofa breathtaking FP2 marked by numerous exchanges of times between the two rivals.
The weekend starts well for Ducati, at home. Alvaro Bautista completed the top 3 despite struggling with front grip in the heat. He also completed a useful long stint to prepare for the races. The Ducati riders were deprived of the Barni Spark Racing Team, led by Yari Montella (4e) and Danilo Petrucci (6th), also appear competitive.
Yamaha in difficulty, Kawasaki in ambush
At Yamaha, Remy gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha) was the fastest, but his day was spoiled by two crashes, including a violent one at turn 13. On the side of bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team,
alex lowes (7nd) and Axel Bassani
have put in solid performances that put them in ambush for the rest of the weekend.
Drivers' statements:
P1 – Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“We made a small step forward between FP1 and FP2, and my feeling with the bike has improved. It’s not enough yet for the race, as there are a few areas where I’m not riding the way I’d like. We still have to find something, but overall we have a good package, even if I’m not 100% yet. We tested here recently, but the conditions are very different. It’s much hotter and there’s less grip, so we need to adapt the bike. It’s not the same as the test, but we’re working well and I think we can take another step forward tomorrow.”
P2 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
“We started the weekend well and our pace is good, but Nicolò is very fast too. In FP2, when I went out with a second new tire, I felt something strange. There was no grip and I didn't understand why. We have one session left and if we can improve a little, we can fight for the win. I think Alvaro could also join the fight, as he is usually strong here. I still have to fight a little with the bike, but we are improving at every circuit. I keep pushing and working hard. I hope we make the right adjustments so that I am more comfortable tomorrow. We'll see if it will be another duel with Bulega.”
P3 – Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“We started the day with a setup based on our recent test, and I felt pretty good on the bike this morning. In the afternoon, with the higher temperatures, I tried the harder front tire, but I didn't feel comfortable. It lacked grip on the front, especially mid-corner, so we switched back to the softer front tire. I also did a long stint. The feeling wasn't bad, but I was lacking grip on the rear. I think we need to make some changes for tomorrow. Today was a solid start: we were only three tenths behind in FP1 with a consistent pace. In FP2, we were nine tenths behind Bulega, so now we need to close that gap.”
P4 – Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)
“We’ve made a good step forward since the test. In FP1, the track felt a bit different and I had to adapt. We found our pace from the test, around the low 1’34s, and that’s positive. I was happy with our performance and I also tried the qualifying tire, which allowed us to make good progress. I hope the other drivers will use it too so we can compare better. Overall, it was a good Friday for us, but we have to stay honest and focused. The goal is to keep working and stay in the fight, session after session.”
This first day of the 2025 WorldSBK Misano lived up to expectations, with extreme conditions and a Bulega-Razgatlioglu duel that could well last all weekend. Ducati shines at home, BMW confirms its rise to power, while Yamaha and Kawasaki remain on the lookout. Next up: FP3 and Superpole, which promise to be crucial before the first races.
Combined Superbike Misano 2025 J1 classification:
Classification credit: WorldSBK.com
Superbike Misano 2025 Superbike Misano 2025
