A thrilling weekend of racing incoming as the WorldSBK championship heads to Portimão, with Razgatlioglu, Bulega, and the rest of the grid vying for supremacy.
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After a rain-affected start to Day 1, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for a dry and action-packed Day 2 of testing ahead of the Pirelli Portuguese Round later this month. While Ducati dominated the season opener in Australia, BMW made a strong statement in Portimão, with Toprak Razgatlioglu leading the charge.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) continued his impressive form, topping the timesheets for the second consecutive day. The Turkish rider, who secured a second-place finish in Race 1 in Australia but faced mechanical issues in Race 2, is determined to return to the podium in Portugal. His consistent performance in testing signals a promising start for BMW’s 2025 campaign.
Ducati and Kawasaki in the Mix
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) followed closely in second place, replicating his Day 1 result despite a crash at Turn 11 earlier in the session. The Italian rider was cleared by the medical team and returned to the track on a different bike, clocking a best lap time of 1’40.017s.
Alex Lowes (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) made a late surge to secure third place, bumping Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to fourth. Van der Mark had been a strong contender throughout the day, sitting in second place during the rain-induced lunch break, but was unable to hold off the late charges from Bulega and Lowes.
While Ducati didn’t replicate its Australian dominance, the Italian manufacturer still had a strong showing in Portimão. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who skipped Day 1 due to the rain, made his first appearance and finished ninth with a lap time of 1’40.717s, just shy of his 2024 best at the circuit.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) continued his strong form, finishing sixth with a lap time of 1’40.651s. The Italian rider has been a consistent performer in testing, showcasing the potential of the independent Ducati squad.
Mixed Fortunes for the Grid
The two-day test session highlighted the competitive nature of the 2025 WorldSBK grid. While BMW and Ducati stole the headlines, Kawasaki and other manufacturers showed glimpses of their potential. Michael van der Mark’s improved comfort on the BMW and Alex Lowes’ late surge demonstrated the depth of talent across the field.
Looking Ahead to the Portuguese Round
With testing now complete, teams and riders will analyze their data and fine-tune their setups ahead of the Pirelli Portuguese Round, set to take place later this month at the same circuit. Toprak Razgatlioglu’s strong performance has set the stage for an exciting battle, while Ducati remains a formidable force despite not dominating the timesheets as it did in Australia.
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