WSBK Jerez Superbike Race 1: Nicolo Bulega triumphs masterfully, Toprak Razgatlioglu writes BMW history

In race 1 of the Superbikes in Jerez, Nicolò Bulega escapes, Toprak Razgatlioglu Don't look for trouble and close games early: BMW world champion, who would have said it?

De Paul Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu keeps repeating that he always wants to win, but he has understood that a Superbike World Championship can be worth a compromise. By calming the boiling tempers for once, he kicked off BMW's rainbow party, two races from the end: for the 28-year-old Turkish star, it is the second title after the one he won in 2021 with Yamaha. The German giant, meanwhile, seizes the crown for the first time, rewarding a chase that began in 2009. It needed an ace up its sleeve to suddenly resolve all the crises and give wings to Project M. "Toprak will stop winning if he goes to BMW", many said last winter. On the contrary, he was right: he won 17 races, without weakening, even after the terrible accident during the tests at Magny Cours, which could have cost him much more than a result. A bet won all along, including the 2,5 million to which BMW will certainly add huge bonuses.

Nicholas Bulega did his best
Starting with a 46-point deficit, the Ducatist had only one choice: after conquering the Superpole with a new track record in Jerez, he had no choice but to try to escape and put as much pressure as possible on Toprak. Were we going to see El Turco fall into the trap of the lure of gain, take risks to celebrate the highest step of the podium? The calculation was there, but it did not happen. Razgatlioglu is a formidable thinker, after all his mistakes in nine years of Superbike can be counted on the fingers of one hand. But this fast and determined Bulega can go even further. Ducati seems to have found a new lease of life for the Panigale, but above all a rider worthy heir to the myths of the past in the person of the Rosso.

Toprak the Martian
For his first experience in Superbike as champion of the cadet category, Nicholas Bulega did what he could, namely to push back as much as possible the epilogue of a season that Toprak Razgatlioglu literally dominated. El Turco has far exceeded the limits of a bike that, without the super concessions, that is, the possibility of using non-homologated engine and chassis components, if ridden by normal riders, is still in the middle of the standings. He is the only one who has made it fly. But things change quickly in racing and the Nicholas Bulega seen in recent days from Estoril to Jerez, makes the Ducatisti dream. In the meantime, that makes five victories, the rest could come on Sunday at the season finale. It made people smile, as usual, the final celebration that Toprak organized with a dozen Turkish friends: he hid in a spaceship to wear the golden suit as Alvaro Bautista two years ago.

Loca on the podium
The first two obviously overshadowed the rest a little. Notably the fine podium finish of a Andrea Locatelli much stronger than it seems. He is to Yamaha what Toprak is to BMW: the only one who can get the spider out of the hole. Unfortunately, Andrea Iannone was a bit of a missing link, suffering from his starting position and the choice of a harder front tyre, as Danilo Petrucci which was immediately pushed off course by alex lowes and crashed after just five corners on the opening lap. The former MotoGP rider suffered a bruise to his right hand and forearm, and will have to grit his teeth to compete in the final two races. He's used to it.

Results of race 1 of the Superbikes in Jerez: 

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Paul Gozzi

Superbike Jerez race 1