Razgat leads the pack on Day One at Portimao

In a blistering display of speed and precision, Toprak Razgatlioglu shattered the 1’40 barrier at Portimao, stamping his authority on day one and leaving the competition scrambling in his wake.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) put in the quickest time at one of his favourite tracks to head up the combined FP1 and FP2 sessions at Portimao. He was the only rider to get under the 1’40 mark, setting a 1’39.995 to displace one-time leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to second quickest in the early overall weekend rankings.

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was suddenly a top runner with a few minutes of the session left, finishing third fastest.

Toprak’s teammate Michael van der Mark put in a late lap of a 1’40.506s to ensure both BMWs were in the top three, lapping more than half a second slower than Razgatlioglu.

Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven Ducati) was fourth fastest, ahead of two more V4-R riders, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and triple Cremona race winner in 2024, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati).

The two BMW riders may have made a great early showing but Portimao was still a happy hunting ground for the Ducatis, with rookie Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati), Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing Ducati) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati) filling the third row of the Race One grid, from seventh to ninth places, respectively.

Bulega was as consistent as ever, but can he take it one step further?

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was top bimota rider in tenth place overall; Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was 11th fastest and leading Yamaha rider, with Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) the top Honda runner in 14th position.

WorldSBK Portimao FP2