Toprak Razgatlioglu won the Tissot-Superpole Race at Portimao, becoming the first rider to win 12 races in a row in WorldSBK.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) became the first rider to achieve 12 consecutive WorldSBK victories. The Turk was impressive, taking his 53rd victory ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). After taking the lead on the first lap, he fought to hold on to second place and finished 0.271s ahead of Alex Lowes
PERFECTION: Razgatlioglu makes history
Petrucci made a brilliant start, leading Lowes from the first lap as the Superpole Race progressed. However, Razgatlioglu was quick to attack at the first corner. Battles took place everywhere in the opening laps, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) tried to have another good race at Portimao after passing Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha).
Meanwhile, Petrucci began to battle with Lowes, trying to reclaim second place at the halfway mark. The Italian managed to win and Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) quickly put the #22 under pressure in the fight for the last place on the podium. Lowes dropped to fourth with two laps remaining, before reacting on the final lap to regain third place from van der Mark. No one could match Razgatlioglu's pace, which saw the #54 take his 12th consecutive WorldSBK victory, with Petrucci and Lowes joining him on the podium.
POINTS: Virgo in top form
Van der Mark finished fourth and continued to show his ability to reach the podium in Portimao. The Dutchman finished ahead of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in fifth place. The Italian had an uneventful Superpole race, beating teammate Bautista by just 0.166s. Meanwhile, Xavi Virgo (Team HRC) achieved a sensational result by placing seventh, giving him a good starting position for the final race of the weekend. The #97 finished ahead of the best Yamaha rider, Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who finished eighth, with the final place in the Top 9 going to Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven).
NO POINTS: Rea plummets to 10th position
Rea crossed the line in 10th position, losing ground throughout the Superpole Race and looking ahead to Race 2. The six-time WorldSBK Champion was ahead of teammate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), who placed 13th, and Rémy Gardner of the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK team, the Australian finishing 15th.
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