WorldSBK Race Two: Rampant Razgatlioglu does the treble

WorldSBK Race Two: Rampant Razgatlioglu does the treble

17 July 2022

WorldSBK Race Two: Rampant Razgatlioglu does the treble

17 July 2022

Yamaha's reigning champion Toprak Razgatlioglu completed his clean sweep of WorldSBK race victories at Donington Park this weekend, by winning this afternoon's Race Two, following on from his Race One and Tissot Superpole triumphs.

Once more, the Turkish ace led every lap, and rebuffed a strong early challenge from Kawasaki's Jonathan Rea, before stretching his legs in the final stages of the 23-lap contest.

Razgatlioglu took full advantage of his pole position to lead the field down to Redgate but had to withstand heavy pressure from Rea on the opening tour, while Bautista moved up to third ahead of Scott Redding.

Rea was able to draw alongside the reigning champion on the approach to the Fogarty Esses on the second lap, and again on the third tour, with the pair going wheel to wheel on the run down to the Melbourne Hairpin with Rea looking to have gained the advantage only for Razgatlioglu to fight back.

Rea again looked to have made a move stick at the Esses on lap six, but the Yamaha contender regained the lead with a lunge at Melbourne. The fight brought Bautista into play, making it a three-way battle for the lead with Scott Redding gaining ground too.

The side-by-side stuff was put on hiatus for a few laps, with the lead pair re-establishing a small gap to Bautista in the process, but the trio became one again by the time the pack started lap 12.

While this was going on, Bautista's Ducati teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi had managed to find his way past Redding to take fourth.

Razgatlioglu though began to pull away at the front, establishing a lead of eight tenths of a second by lap 16, and over two seconds three laps later.

His eventual winning margin was just over a second with Bautista taking the runner-up spot thanks to a move on Rea at the Melbourne Hairpin on lap 19, with the six-time champion settling for third.

Rinaldi took fourth ahead of BMW's Redding, with Donington local Alex Lowes sixth for Kawasaki.

Axel Bassani, Andrea Locatelli, Loris Baz and Iker Lecuona were the top-10 finishers.

Razgatlioglu's win means he's the third WorldSBK rider to take three wins in a weekend, alongside Rea and Bautista.

Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, Donington Park, Race Two result:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK, 23 laps
2. Alvaro Bautista, Aruba.it Racing Ducati, +1.102s
3. Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, +2.615s
4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Aruba.it Racing Ducati, +5.067s
5. Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, +8.256s
6. Alex Lowes, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, +10.114s
7. Axel Bassani, Motocorsa Racing, +13.422s
8. Andrea Locatelli, Pata Yamaha with Brixx, +15.514s
9. Loris Baz, GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, +23.119s
10. Iker Lecuona, Team HRC Honda, +23.512s

The next major motorcycle event at Donington Park is the Classic Motorcycle Festival on 30/31 July. Click here for more information and to book tickets. 

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