Toprak Holds Off Determined Bulega For Race One Win

Razgatlioglu triumphs after dramatic Portimao showdown, Locatelli secures a well-earned third place

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a crowd-pleasing fight almost all through the 20-lap opening race at Portimao, with the Turkish rider holding on to his slender lead on the final lap to win by just 0.067 seconds.

Razgatlioglu used a hard SC2 front tyre and Bulega a softer front option, but they were well-matched on track, with several passes and re-passes being put in around WorldSBK’s very own asphalt roller coaster.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) secured an excellent third place finish on the official R1, having been second on lap one and fast enough for long enough to blunt even the challenge of fourth placed rider, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati). Locatelli was 7.855 seconds from the win, but took his first podium of the season all the same.

Another unexpected top ride – even with some other star names out of the running – came from the official Fireblade of Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC), in a lone fifth place.

There was a five rider fight for the last few places inside the top ten, with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) sixth, Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven Ducati) seventh, Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) eighth, Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) ninth and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) finally tenth after starting the final lap in seventh place.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing Ducati) clashed and fell on lap one. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) was another early DNF, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati) out of the running at half race distance. His brother Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was also a faller as he tried to climb back into contention from his last place start on the grid.

In the championship, with two WorldSBK races still to go at Portimao on Sunday 30 March, Bulega has 82 points and Razgatlioglu 45.