The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship delivered a thrilling 10-lap race at the Circuito Estoril on Sunday morning, as the riders took to the track under perfect racing conditions. Starting from pole position was Race 1 winner Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who led the field from lights out, as Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) chased down the Turkish rider into Turn 1, whilst Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) battled for a top three position.
EARLY FIGHTS: a chaotic start to the 10-lap dash
Championship contender Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was outside of the front pack in the early stages of the Superpole Race, and at the front, spectators witnessed close racing between Razgatlioglu, Petrucci, Rea and Locatelli as they displayed an exciting battle for the lead. Fresh from Saturday’s Race 1 win though, the #54 was determined to repeat his success, managing to gap his rivals and take a confident lead as the race began to settle.
HUNTING RIVALS DOWN: Bulega makes early gains
With the Championship title at stake, 24-year-old Bulega, increased his race pace in an effort to catch the leading group, and with eight laps of race distance remaining, overtook into second position, hunting down title rival Razgatlioglu whilst Yamaha’s Locatelli dualled with Petrucci for a potential rostrum finish. Despite a strong race start for Rea, he fell out of contention as he suffered a slow crash into Turn 10 with 6 laps remaining, making way for Spaniard Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to move up the rankings.
CLOSEST EVER FINISH: 0.003s separate Bulega and Razgatlioglu
Finding some late race place was Ducati rider Bautista, who moved into third ahead of Locatelli and #9 Petrucci as the Superpole Race entered the closing stages. Stable mate to the #1; Bulega, also found some impressive speed, managing to close the gap on Razgatlioglu as the WorldSBK riders entered into the final lap. The race was to be decided on the final straight to the chequered line though, as Bulega entered the slipstream of #54, and stunned spectators as he claimed the win with just 0.003 seconds between the two. #11 also achieved a new race lap record of 1’36.178, as he shares the podium with Razgatiloglu for the 7th time this season.
REDDING 10TH: British rider completes top 10
Bautista improved on his performance from Race 1, achieving his 17th podium of the year as he claimed third place, whilst Locatelli led Petrucci over the line to take fourth and fifth. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was close on their tails in sixth, as Vierge and Race 1 podium finisher Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) took seventh and eighth. Italian Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) just pipped #45 rider Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) to the chequered flag as they rounded of the top 10 in the Superpole Race.
The top nine from the Tissot Superpole Race:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.003s
3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +4.253s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +5.623s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +7.161s
6. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +7.192s
7. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) +8.157s
8. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +9.672s
9. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +11.822s
Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati – 1’36.178s (new race lap record)
