Toprak Razgatlioglu, after a solid weekend, is closing in on the title, while Alvaro Bautista sees his chances disappear after a crash in Race 1. Nicolo Bulega has not said his last word, and is still hoping to force an outcome in Jerez. A look back at a weekend which, if not decisive, will certainly play a key role in the outcome of the championship.
Toprak 'El Turco' Razgatlioglu, master of Estoril (only)
The weekend got off to the best possible start for Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who won the first race in style. His victory, combined with Álvaro Bautista's crash, was the perfect scenario. The Spanish rider is no longer in a position to defend his world title, leaving Razgatlioglu in the lead by more than 40 points over his main rival, Nicolo Bulega. One Spaniard replaces another, with Lecuona taking third place.
Bautista at Bulega's service at Ducati?
Although Bautista crashed out of Race 1, he didn't give up and came back strongly in the weekend's other two rounds. In the Superpole Race, he took an impressive third place after climbing from 11th on the grid. As for Race 2, Bautista once again finished on the podium, proving his resilience. And for good reason: the season is not over for Ducati... His focus now seems to be on supporting his team and team-mate.
The veteran Spaniard declared: "I felt I could attack for second place, but I think it was wiser to let Nicolo finish second so as not to lose more points to Toprak." So, the question has emerged even in the paddock: is the n1 set to play an assistant role to team-mate Nicolo Bulega in the fight for the title? Ducati team manager Serafino Foti was clear. According to him, no instructions were given to Bautista, but the latter acted intelligently by not seeking to risk a clash with his teammate: "Alvaro is intelligent. He worked for the team."
Results Race 1 (Top 5)
WSBK: A record for Bulega!
The never-before-seen photo finish that postpones Toprak Razgatlioglu's coronation.
Bulega, for his part, savored his Superpole victory, winning by a tiny margin of 0.003 seconds (!) ahead of Razgatlioglu. It was the closest finish in WorldSBK history, beating the previous record set in Australia in 2010. "I had a lot of fun fighting in the Superpole Race, especially overtaking Toprak on the last corner. In Race 2 it was more difficult, he was really fast, but I'm delighted to have pushed the title to the last round," confided Bulega.
Superpole Race results (Top 5)
Yes, in Race 2, Toprak Razgatlioglu once again proved his dominance despite a poor start. After losing several positions, he climbed from fifth to first in just a few laps. Behind him, Jonathan Rea and Bautista battled for the final podium places, but neither could keep up with the pace set by the Turkish rider. Razgatlioglu crossed the finish line with a much clearer lead of five seconds over his pursuers, Bulega and Bautista. This victory means that the overall leader can now look forward to the final round in Jerez with his usual serenity. "I'm more relaxed for Jerez, because I have a good advantage. I don't need to win again, just a good position to secure the title," said the 2021 champion.
Results Race 2 (Top 5)
World Superbike Championship standings after eleven rounds (of 12)
World Superbike Championship at Estoril: Danilo Petrucci takes the crown
While Toprak will have to wait for praise, Danilo Petrucci was crowned champion at the penultimate round of the season. With three wins and ten podiums this year, the 33-year-old secured his Independent Drivers' Championship title despite what he described as "the worst weekend of the season". His crash in the first race did not mar the outcome of his remarkable run. Asked about his prospects for 2025, Petrucci doesn't play down the competition, but hopes to at least aim for a Top 3 finish.
WSBK 2025 market: several handlebars still available
Let's talk about the future. While suspense persists on the track, uncertainty remains regarding contracts as the end of the WSBK 2024 season approaches. At GYTR GRT Yamaha, the contracts of Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter have just been confirmed. Andrea Iannone, author of a fine season including podium finishes, has long remained mysterious about his future. He will continue his adventure with Team GoEleven next year.
On the Ducati side , a new team could emerge in 2025. Denis Sacchetti, director of GoEleven, spoke of advanced discussions, without revealing any further details for the moment. The BMW Bonovo Action team, which is considering a move to Ducati, is also finalizing its decisions. We'll have to wait a little longer for official announcements, but the coming weeks promise interesting revelations and new challenges for 2025.
The Final Round will not only be crucial for the results of the current season, but also for the future of certain riders and teams in WorldSBK. The 2024 World Superbike Championship is about to draw to a close at the final round in Jerez. With 62 points still up for grabs, Toprak Razgatlioglu, the clear favorite, will have to remain cautious against the ever-threatening Nicolo Bulega. Toprak Razgatlioglu's comfortable lead of 46 points means he can approach this final round with relative peace of mind, but as he said himself, "sometimes, managing the situation is not easy".
The leading duo are not letting up, as they both blew out their candles on this October 16th. The Turk celebrates his 28th birthday, three years older than his challenger.
WSBK Superbike: 2025 calendar revealed
Magny-Cours (France) maintains its dates on the 2025 calendar.
The provisional calendar for the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship 2025, with 12 rounds, includes a number of new features. Portimao and Most have been brought forward, while Balaton Park will make its debut in July. After the official test on February 17 and 18 at Phillip Island, Australia will host the season opener from February 21 to 23. The final third of the season will begin with Magny-Cours (September 5-7), followed by MotorLand Aragon (September 26-28), Estoril (October 10-12), and to conclude, the finale in Jerez from October 17-19.
Photo credits: WorldSBK
