Razgatlioglu Makes it Seven in a Row

Toprak wins red-flagged maiden race at Balaton, Gardner taken out in first lap pile-up

The first ever WorldSBK race at Balaton lasted for two corners before a mid-pack collision – initially between Iker Lecuona, Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Iannone – caused eight riders to fall – and others to have to take sharp avoiding action. Iannone was finally pinged with a double long lap penalty for a irresponsible riding.

A quick restart procedure was called and a 20-lap Race One was the final outcome.

On the restart there were only 20 starters, with Remy Gardner, Ryan Vickers and Lecuona all out. Lecuona had suffered a left wrist fracture and Gardner a suspected concussion.

In the real race, Razgatlioglu jumped into a one second lead after three laps, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati) his closest chasers.

His lead was almost two seconds after four laps, and fully 2.662 seconds after five laps.

Sam Lowes crashed at T2 on lap seven, losing his almost certain podium finish.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) went into second place after Lowes’ fall.

Razgatlioglu turned up the pace once again on lap seven, with a new lap record of 1’39.732. He was still setting 1’39 laps on lap 12 and went on to win by 3.738 seconds, from Bulega, with a lonely third place going to Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).

Locatelli was fourth, and an amazing forward push from a back of the grid start from Petrucci saw the Barni Spark Ducati competitor ride from 21st to sixth after 20 laps.

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) could have taken a fifth place but for Petrucci’s pace on the final few laps.

Fully 24 seconds from the race winner, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) was a lonely seventh, with Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC), Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) and Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounding out the top ten.

In his first Ducati ride Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Racing Ducati) sat in 12th place for some time, before being passed by two riders and ending up 14th overall.

The result sees Toprak Razgatlioglu extend his lead at the top of the championship with 370 points, now nine ahead of Nicolo Bulega on 361. Danilo Petrucci stays third with 220 points, while Alvaro Bautista (210) and Andrea Locatelli (201) round out the top five.

At one stage, this championship looked like it might go down to the wire, but if Bulega can’t find an answer to Toprak’s seemingly unstoppable momentum soon, the title race could get away from him and Ducati very quickly. Nicolo’s fastest race lap of 1’39.854 was only narrowly behind Toprak’s 1’39.732, so if he can get off the line better, perhaps he can challenge the reigning champ more in Sunday’s races.

2025 Hungary WorldSBK Race 1

2025 WorldSBK Standings