2024 WorldSuperbike Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu won the World Superbike Superpole Race Sunday morning at rainy TT Assen Circuit, in the Netherlands. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR, the Turkish racer won the 10-lap race by 3.798 seconds.
Sam Lowes was the runner-up on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R, and Alvaro Bautista was third on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci finished the race 13th on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff crossed the finish line 16th on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Nicolo Bulega suffered a technical problem on his Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R and retired from the race.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Razgatlioglu tops wet Superpole Race at Assen, Sam Lowes earns P2 after Bulega tech issue forces retirement. Sam Lowes follows in his brother’s footsteps to earn his first ever WorldSBK podium at the same venue as his twin Alex back in 2014.
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s final day at Assen’s historic ‘Cathedral of Speed’ got off to a flying start with its first point-scoring event of the day in the Tissot Superpole Race. Rain fell overnight, leaving the track saturated with water this morning, and by the 10-lap race’s start, the track remained wet however the sun had broken through the cloud cover. Toprak took his first P1 of the weekend for his first ever career win in the wet, overtaking Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who suffered a tech issue which forced him to retire. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) seized the opportunity to take his first ever WorldSBK podium in P2 at the same track his brother had his maiden win back in 2014. In P3, Alvaro Bautista claimed his 112nd podium, his 12th in Assen.
SAM LOWES ON THE PODIUM: first rostrum for the #14 as Bulega retires
Bulega started the race in P2, behind only Sam Lowes who started from pole. He claimed an early P1 after overtaking the #14, a lead he clung to until Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took his chance and passed ‘Bulegas’ on the inside to claim P1. From there, Razgatlioglu pulled away and went on to top the race in P1. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) later was able to take advantage of a tech issue which forced Bulega to retire and passed him in Turn 1 of Lap 7 to earn his best-ever WorldSBK result, although this was after he dropped all the way back down to P10 at the start after running wide at Turn 1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) benefitted from his teammates’ misfortune, claiming P3 in the wet.
LOKA vs VAN DER MARK FOR P4: Just a quarter of a second separating the two, Redding gains ten places
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) stayed hot in the damp conditions at Assen, right around the battle at the front once again and finished P4. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had his best result of his latest home round so far, placing P5 after almost passing ‘Loka’ on several occasions, finishing just two tenths of a second behind the Italian. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) enjoyed a ride in the rain and earned P6 after fighting his way up from P16.
MACKENZIE P9, VICKERS P10: 4 Brits in top 10
Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) nearly broke into the second row for Race 2 with his P7 in the Superpole Race, finishing four tenths shy of Redding for P6. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) for the second time this weekend beat his veteran teammate across the line, the riding his Ducati Panigale V4 R well to earn a third-row spot for Race 2. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) rode a sensational Superpole Race to earn not only his best result of his WorldSBK career, but to finish as the top Honda rider for the first time this season as well. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) closed out the top 10, his best result so far of his rookie WorldSBK season after he started from 21st.
The top nine from the WorldSBK Superpole Race, full results here!
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +3.798s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +6.895s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +9.907s
5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +10.147s
6. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +11.621s
7. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +12.093s
8. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +13.099s
9. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) +14.860s
Fastest lap: Dominique Aegerter (Yamaha) – 1’42.697s
Tune in this afternoon at 14:00 local time (UTC +2) to catch the final WorldSBK Race action of the weekend in Race 2 via the WorldSBK VideoPass!