Motul FIM World Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu led every lap of the first WorldSBK race at Donington Park on Saturday, beating title rival Jonathan Rea by 6.3s and Alex Lowes by 9.4.

Razgatlioglu started third behind Kawasaki stablemates Rea and Lowes but jumped both at the start and held that lead until the very end.

Rea had to fight back to second after losing ground when he nearly lost the bike into Fogarty's Esses on the opening lap but was quickly past Lowes and the fast starting Bautista who had launched into second.

While Razgatlioglu pulled away, Bautista and Rea were locked in a tight duel with Rea continuously attempting to pass the championship leader. The Northern Irishman had numerous lunges into the Melbourne Hairpin and even pushed Bautista out of the way into Goddards but it wasn't working until Bautista ran wide and handed Rea the position.  

At the time, it looked as if Rea would be able to close on the lead with the gap to Razgatlioglu being 2.6s. But the six-time champion was unable to drop Bautista and eventually went wide himself, giving the position back.

The duel looked set to last right up to the flag until Bautista lost the front at Goddards and slid off into the gravel, losing him good championship points. He rejoined in 24th but retired soon after, his first time off the podium all season.

This had promoted Scott Redding into third who had fought past Lowes with the two of them fighting hard for the final podium spot at their home race. Despite very aggressive defending from Redding, Lowes got past and took third place with three laps to go.

All this time though Razgatlioglu had been pulling away from Jonathan Rea and comfortably won with Rea over 6 seconds back.

With fourth going to BMW's Redding, Motocorsa racing's Axel Bassani took fifth as the lead Ducati rider, ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi.

Garrett Gerloff was seventh, Iker Lecuona eighth and Loris Baz and Andrea Locatelli rounded out the top 10.

Rea is now only 16 points behind Bautista in the Rider's Championship with the Brit on 204 to the Spaniard's 220. Reigning champion Toprak Razgatlioglu is 54 behind Bautista on 166.

Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, Donington Park, race one result:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK, 33m.46.954
2. Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, +6.397
3. Alex Lowes, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, +9.499
4. Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, +11.515
5. Axel Bassani, Motocorsa Racing, +12.820
6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Aruba.it Racing - Ducati, +14.482
7. Garrett Gerloff, GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, +17.127
8. Iker Lecuona, Team HRC, +17.438
9. Loris Baz, Bonovo Action BMW, +24.903
10. Andrea Locatelli, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK, +28.498

Click here for full result. 

Tickets for the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship at Donington Park are available on the gate all weekend, with two more WorldSBK races to follow on Sunday. Click here for full information.