In a heart-pounding showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, Toprak Razgatlioglu has doubled his victories at the Estoril circuit, edging out his fierce title contender Nicolo Bulega and holding off Alvaro Bautista to snag third place – a result that puts him tantalizingly close to sealing the WorldSBK championship crown this very weekend.
For those new to the World Superbike scene, the Superpole Race is like a high-stakes sprint: just 10 laps long, it not only awards points but also determines the starting grid for the longer main event, Race 2. And at the EICMA Estoril Round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, 'El Turco' – that's Razgatlioglu's nickname – made it look effortless as he claimed his second win in as many races here. Riding for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, he crossed the line just half a second ahead of Bulega from the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati squad. This victory marks Razgatlioglu's 21st of the 2025 season and boosts his points lead over the #11 rider by another three. Now, here's the exciting part: if he outperforms Bulega by 18 points or more in Race 2 later today, Razgatlioglu could be officially crowned the champion right there on the track. Talk about high drama!
THE INTENSE BATTLE AT THE FRONT: Razgatlioglu and Bulega Go Head-to-Head Once More
From the moment the lights went out, it was clear this 10-lap thriller would be a chess match on two wheels. Bulega nailed the perfect start, grabbing the holeshot and leading into Turn 1. But Razgatlioglu, undeterred, slipped back to third behind Alvaro Bautista, the experienced Ducati rider. Not one to stay down, 'El Turco' made his move early, overtaking Bautista at Turn 6 on the very first lap – a bold inside pass that showcased his precision cornering skills. Then, on Lap 2 at Turn 1, he sliced past Bulega to take the lead. The duo traded positions like pros in a high-speed game of tag: Razgatlioglu briefly went wide at Turn 6, letting Bulega reclaim the front for a single corner, only for them to swap again at Turn 9. But the #1 rider – Razgatlioglu's number – dug deep and held firm. Bulega pushed hard at Turn 1 in response, but Razgatlioglu's defensive riding kept him at bay. Gradually, he pulled away, building a comfortable gap that held steady through the middle of the race. And this is the part most people miss: in the second half, Bulega mounted a fierce comeback, closing right up on his rival's tail. Yet, with nerves of steel, the BMW ace restored his lead and powered to victory on Sunday morning, inching ever closer to that elusive title. For fans, it's a reminder of why these rivalries make WorldSBK so addictive – two young guns pushing the limits of man and machine.
Another thrilling win this weekend for @topfragrls (https://twitter.com/topfragrls?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw), with @nbulega (https://twitter.com/nbulega?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) taking second and @19Bautista (https://twitter.com/19Bautista?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) grabbing third. #EstorilWorldSBK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/EstorilWorldSBK?src=hash&refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) pic.twitter.com/qTSFpHZ1P9 (https://t.co/qTSFpHZ1P9)
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 12, 2025 (https://twitter.com/WorldSBK/status/1977318176732880923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
THE SCRAP FOR PODIUM GLORY: Bautista Hangs Tough to the Finish
But here's where it gets controversial: the battle for that crucial third spot – which secures a prime front-row start for Race 2 – was a real nail-biter that divided opinions on aggressive riding. Alvaro Bautista fought tooth and nail to hold onto P3 against Andrea Locatelli of the Pata Maxus Yamaha team. Early on, Bautista had his hands full repelling attacks from Locatelli's teammate, the legendary Jonathan Rea on the #65 Yamaha. Rea was like a shadow, pressuring Bautista relentlessly until Lap 5, when Locatelli finally broke through at Turn 1 to challenge for the position. Things took a dramatic turn, though, when Rea – chasing a better grid spot – tumbled out of fifth place with just three laps remaining after a crash at Turn 7. Some say it was a risky overtake attempt gone wrong, while others blame the tricky Estoril surface; either way, it handed Bautista the third-place finish and a front-row launch for the afternoon's big race. For beginners, podium spots aren't just about glory – they mean better lines into corners and less traffic at the start, which can make or break a race.
Heartbreaking end to a great race – @jonathanrea (https://twitter.com/jonathanrea?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) is down from 5th position with just 3 laps to go. #EstorilWorldSBK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/EstorilWorldSBK?src=hash&refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) pic.twitter.com/mMjqEOiuSW (https://t.co/mMjqEOiuSW)
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 12, 2025 (https://twitter.com/WorldSBK/status/1977316912443887871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
SETTING UP ROW 2 FOR RACE 2: Locatelli Edges P4, Iannone Charges to P5
Further back, Andrea Locatelli showed real grit, resisting a late surge from Andrea Iannone of the Team Pata GoEleven squad to lock in fourth place. Iannone, nicknamed 'The Maniac' for his fearless style, clawed his way up the order once again but had to make do with fifth. Imagine the chaos: Alex Lowes from the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team was hot on Locatelli's heels for fourth as they blasted into the final lap, but in a bid to snatch the spot, Lowes highsided and crashed, plummeting to 15th. That twist rounded out the second row for Race 2 with Remy Gardner of the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team in sixth. Gardner had his work cut out, defending against Xavi Vierge on the Honda HRC – who was running the softer SCQ tire for extra grip – to nail that strong P6 and set himself up nicely for the main event.
RACE 2'S THIRD ROW LINEUP: Vierge Tops Bassani and van der Mark
Shifting to the third row, Xavi Vierge will lead it off after his solid seventh-place finish, followed by Axel Bassani in eighth for the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team – a spot he gained thanks to his teammate Lowes' misfortune. Rounding out the row is Michael van der Mark from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, who brought his bike home in ninth. These positions might seem minor, but in a pack of elite riders, starting from row three can still open doors to surprise overtakes, especially on a track like Estoril with its mix of fast straights and technical turns.
Here's the complete top nine finishers from the Tissot Superpole Race, with full results available here (https://resources.worldsbk.com/files/results/2025/EST/SBK/002/CLA/Results.pdf?version=4ea15b56b9f9d7e2afcf7a131336f366&_ga=2.210500821.1591317230.1760002258-1987345431.1752137082):
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.545s
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +8.942s
- Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +10.060s
- Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +10.122s
- Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +10.936s
- Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +11.747s
- Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +12.762s
- Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +14.875s
Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati), 1'34.973s (new lap record) – a blistering time that shaved seconds off the previous mark and highlights why Ducati's engineering is turning heads this season.
Catch all the action in Race 2 starting at 14:00 Local Time (UTC+1) via the WorldSBK VideoPass – and at just €9.99, it's an unbeatable way to dive deeper into the championship chase!
But let's stir the pot a bit: is Razgatlioglu's BMW dominance a sign that the title fight is all but over, or can Bulega pull off a miracle comeback? And what about Rea's crash – unlucky break or a lesson in overreaching? Drop your thoughts in the comments: Do you think Toprak wraps it up today, or will we see more fireworks? I'd love to hear if you're Team BMW or rooting for the underdog Ducati duo!
