WSBK Superbike Misano FP1: Toprak Razgatlioglu scares, Ducati in pursuit...

Toprak Razgatlioglu was the fastest in FP1 of the WorldSBK Superbike World Championship at Misano. Nicholas Bulega in pursuit, while BMW and Ducati write history.

De Paul Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu made an immediate impact in the first part of the Superbike clash at Misano. A few days after announcing his move to MotoGP in 2026 with Pramac Yamaha, the BMW champion set a commanding time of 1'33″031, keeping the Ducati Nicholas Bulega andAlvaro Bautista at a good distance, respectively two and three tenths. The others have big gaps, starting with the Yamaha of Remy gardner, more than six tenths behind. On this circuit, as on the previous ones, BMW and Ducati are in a class of their own. And to think that fuel flow limitations were imposed on both riders: a measure that is obviously completely unnecessary for compacting the group.

Superbike Showman
It's only Friday morning, but Toprak took things very seriously. An exceptional lap, a steady pace, and a maximum effort. So much so that at the first corner, thirteen minutes from the finish, Razgatlioglu risked losing control by controlling the skid with the acrobatic stunt you see in the opening photo and below.

Ducati is ready to take on the challenge. In the garage, the entire elite of the racing department is present: from the general manager Luigi Dall'Igna right-hand man and technical director David Barana, head of the calculations and simulations sector. Nicholas Bulega, newly confirmed for the 2026 Superbike and promoted to MotoGP co-rider, will benefit from maximum technical support. He will take care of the rest: defending the lead in the World Championship and, if possible, surprising Toprak again. A goal that will make your pulse race...

Regulation: Changes to fuel flow calculation
On the eve of Misano, the International Motorcycling Federation announced, in a very cryptic manner, a new variation of the Balance of Performance calculation system. Starting this season, a fuel flow limitation system is implemented, set at a standard value (47 kg/hour) and adjusted session after session according to atmospheric conditions (temperature and atmospheric pressure). After the first two performance checkpoints (at rounds 2 and 4), Ducati and BMW were penalized one kg/hour of fuel less than the value set for Bimota, Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki.

Where are the new features?
The new feature is that the penalty can now be imposed after each round, in the event of an excessive performance gap, and it will no longer be calculated in increments of 0,5 kg/hour, but in increments of 0,1 kg/hour. But there is a limit: the penalty cannot exceed 1,5 kg/hour under any circumstances. Ducati and BMW can therefore receive a maximum of 0,5 kg/hour. A limit that the engine engineers of both teams can easily manage. In other words, don't worry, nothing will change.

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Paul Gozzi

Classification credit: WorldSBK.com

Superbike Misano FP1