WorldSBK Round 12 Report | Razgatlioglu, Huertas & Carrasco reign supreme

WorldSBK Round 12 Report | Razgatlioglu, Huertas and Carrasco reign supreme. The 2024 season drew to a close with Toprak Razgatlioglu, Adrian Huertas and Ana Carrasco winning their respective titles. What a fantastic year of WorldSBK racing! Report: Ed Stratmann/WorldSBK

Friday practice

WorldSBK

It had been a long wait for Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) but the #21 could finally say he led a MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship session again after topping Free Practice 2, and Friday’s running, at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. The Italian used the SCQ tyre to set his best lap time as he finished 0.150s clear of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in second while Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was third.

WorldSSP

The FIM Supersport World Championship was back in action on Friday afternoon at The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, for the Superpole session and the Spanish spectators were treated to an exciting final five minutes as the riders battled for the top grid positions ahead of Saturday’s Race 1. Current title leader, Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) notched a lap time of 1’42.115s to secure the leading grid position for the eighth time this season.

Fellow Ducati rider, Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) set his best lap time, coming in 0.219s behind the #99 despite a disrupted session following a crash. An impressive session from Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) meant the German started Race 1 from third position.

Saturday

WorldSK
WorldSBK Race 1

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Saturday afternoon for Race 1 of the Spanish round, and the 20-lap race resulted in Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) securing the 2024 WorldSBK Championship title as he rode a calculated race to bag second, whilst his closest rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated the field, winning the first race of the weekend. Italian rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) claimed the final spot on the rostrum in third place.

Dry and sunny conditions set the stage for a memorable Race 1 at the Spanish circuit. Bulega had the holeshot at lights out, with Razgatlioglu hunting the Ducati rider down in second. Locatelli was strong off the start line, running in third ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and BMW’s Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team).

The opening laps saw numerous riders unable to achieve positive starts to their race weekends, with both British riders Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) and Thomas Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) crashing out of contention at turn 6 on lap 1. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) also retired after a crash on lap one, whilst 2023 World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was another victim to fall to the gravel. He managed to recover however and rejoin the back of the field, before crashing once again with just three laps of race distance remaining.

Back at the front, it was clear Razgatlioglu could not match the strong race pace demonstrated by Bulega, as Locatelli was unable to hunt down a consistent #54 in second. Kawasaki’s Lowes was closely matched with Lecuona just outside of the rostrum rankings, with Toprak’s stablemate, van Der Mark riding in sixth. The positions stayed much the same throughout Race 1, and dismissing any rider mistakes, it was clear the Spanish spectators were going to witness the 2024 World Champion claiming his crown on Saturday afternoon.

As the riders entered into the final lap of the race, the BMW garage prepared for what would be a historic day for them, as their #54 rode across the line in second place to seal the World Championship title in the first race of the Spanish round. The 28-year-old Turkish ace builds on his success in 2021, adding another World Superbike Championship to his name and achieving BMW’s first ever Championship win in the class. He marked his 25th podium of the season in style as he stood alongside Bulega and Locatelli on the Spanish podium to celebrate a special day in Jerez.

“I feel like a World Champion! I’m not feeling any stress. For me, the season’s finished now; we have two more races tomorrow, but I’ll just be enjoying it. It’s been a long season. Nobody believed in me or the BMW, but finally they understand we’re World Champions. This is incredible, especially with BMW; they’ve never won the title. Finally, I got my second title and BMW got their first,” Razgatlioglu gleamed.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +6.067s
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +9.361s
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +11.249s
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +13.597s

WorldSSP Race 1

The FIM Supersport World Championship was back for the first WorldSSP race of the weekend. The Spanish spectators witnessed their hero riding to glory as Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) sealed the title, claiming the 2024 crown on home soil. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) was keen to take the Championship decider to Sunday, and despite an outstanding ride where he dominated the field in first position throughout, he was unable to hold off the consistent Huertas. The Italian rider was strong from lights out, as he led Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Triumph’s Thomas Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) in the first lap.

Chasing down a rostrum finish was Ducati’s Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), who was ahead of the Championship leader #99 in fifth, with 14 laps remaining. His race was cut short however, as he was taken out of contention at Turn 13 by Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), with the #61 given a double Long Lap Penalty for the crash. Huertas moved up to fourth as a result, closely followed by Germany’s Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). With the laps clicking by, the 2020 WorldSSP300 Champion found some late race pace, moving into third and attempting to chase down Montella.

As the race progressed, Huertas opted to sit behind Montella and even dropped a couple of seconds behind as he brought home a podium finish to take the 2024 crown to become the first rider to win both the WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 titles. Marcel Schroetter led Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) over the line as they finished fourth and fifth, whilst Booth-Amos and Dutchman Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta F3 800 RR MV Agusta Reparto Corse) claimed sixth and seventh.

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +1.971s
Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 3.793s
Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +6.288s
Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +6.581s

Sunday

Superpole Race

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned for the final Tissot Superpole Race of the 2024 season. Ten laps of the Spanish circuit resulted in the newly crowned World Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) settling for second place behind another impressive ride from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who achieved his second win of the race weekend, as Britain’s Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took the final step on the podium.

All eyes were on Razgatlioglu and Bulega for the morning Superpole Race, and with nothing to lose after claiming the title on Saturday, the #54 was looking to take the win. Both riders were strong from the outset, riding level into the first corner, but it was Bulega who led the field out of the exit of turn one, with Lowes right there in the battle. The 28-year-old Turkish rider soon took control however, as he overtook to move into first with nine laps remaining. At half race distance, Bulega found some increased pace, managing to overtake Razgatlioglu into first position, and soon gapped the BMW rider who was unable to respond. Bulega recorded his eleventh fastest lap in the Superpole Race, putting in a 1’38.528s around the Jerez circuit. The order stayed much the same for the remainder, with Bulega, Razgatlioglu and Lowes completing the rostrum at the chequered flag.

Superpole Race Results

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +2.375s
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +4.182s
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +5.511s
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +6.202s

WorldSBK Race 2

The final race of The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Sunday afternoon for Race 2, and it was newly crowned Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who sealed his remarkable season with a victory. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was aiming for a triple win but was denied it by the #54, as Dutchman Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed the final spot on the Spanish podium.

The second race of the day got going under clear blue skies at Jerez, and it was Bulega who got the jump off the line, closely followed by Razgatlioglu and Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in third. Eager to achieve his first win of the Spanish weekend, the #54 overtook Bulega on lap three into Turn 1, whilst the battle for third spot saw three riders abreast as they battled for a podium result. Van der Mark came out on top as Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) hunted him down.

Andrea Locatelli rode a strong opening race, catching the podium group, however a block pass from Lowes whilst they battled for fourth saw the Italian run out wide onto the track, losing positions, and ending up in sixth on lap four of the race. 2023 World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ran wide when fighting within the top six, falling to tenth. He managed to recover as a few laps passed, however then crashed out of contention on lap 10. A near crash for Iannone also at the halfway point saw him demoted to sixth as he clipped the rear tyre of van der Mark whilst attempting to take third position, but both remained upright.

Back at the front and with seven laps of race distance remaining, Bulega found some late race speed and closed the gap on Razgatlioglu, but the #54 proved too strong, with the #11 Ducati rider unable to find a way of getting through to take first. Iannone managed to recover from his earlier mistake, overtaking into fourth position ahead of Lowes, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and BMW’s Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW).

The 20-lap race was to be unexpectedly cut short with four laps remaining as Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) suffered a technical issue when his bike poured smoke and potential fluid on the track, with the race red-flagged and declared as a full result as more than two-thirds distance had been completed. As a result, Razgatlioglu took the win, with Bulega in second as the #54’s teammate, van der Mark, completed the rostrum. Andrea Iannone led Lowes and Petrucci across the chequered flag to complete the top six, whilst Gerloff and Locatelli claimed seventh and eighth.

Razgatlioglu banked his 57th career win after he was crowned the 2024 title winner on Saturday, and duly added to the BMW celebrations in Jerez.

“It’s been an amazing weekend. We’re World Champions with BMW. I got my second title and I’m really happy. The first one was very special for me because it was for my dad. This one’s for me. It’s been a long season, a very successful year. We had 13 wins in a row, an amazing season but finally it’s done,” Razgatlioglu reflected.

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.545s
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +10.938s
Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +12.399s
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +13.522s

Championship Points

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 527 points
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 484
Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 357
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 316
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 307

WorldSSP Race 2

The FIM Supersport World Championship delivered the final racing of the Prometeon Spanish Round as the riders attacked the 17-lap race at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. The Spanish spectators witnessed another dominant performance from Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) as he led Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) to secure a Yamaha 1-2 result, whilst Dutchman Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) clinched third position in Race 2.

It was Turkish rider Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who demonstrated a rapid launch from lights out as he led the field into the opening sectors of the Spanish circuit. His ascendancy was to be short lived however as he crashed at Turn 9 as the #61 suffered a low side into the entry of the corner, making way for Manzi to take first position, with Debise and Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) hunting him down.

With 12 laps of race distance remaining, just a second covered the leading trio, whilst further back it was Bendsneyder and Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) battling it out for a top four ranking. Just a few laps later however, the #64 Italian rider crashed out of contention at turn six, with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) taking advantage of his mistake and moving up to sixth ahead of Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura).

As the final laps approached, Bendsneyder found some speed, closing the gap on Huertas and overtaking him to move into a rostrum position, leaving the #99 unable to respond. As the chequered flag came out, it was Manzi who stormed across the line to end his perfect weekend with two out of two race wins, followed by Debise and Bendsneyder who claimed his maiden podium result. Newly crowned World Champion, Huertas maintained a solid fourth position as he led Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Navarro over the line to round off the top six finishers.

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +0.275s
Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.810s
Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +3.504s
Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +5.137s

Championship Points

Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 439 points
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 415
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 382
Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) 238
Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 228

WorldWCR

WorldWCR Race 1

The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship provided the first racing of the day at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, as the paddock took to the track on Saturday morning.

Despite a dominant ride from Championship leader Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team), she was unable to hold off her closest rival Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) from taking P1 in Race 1. The #22 managed to achieve P2 on the line from Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) who completed the Jerez rostrum. Race 2 would then decide who became the first ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship winner.

WorldWCR Race 1 Results

María Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team)
Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.585s
Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.606s
Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +14.322s
Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +19.733s

WorldWCR Race 2

It was a historic day at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for Race 2 of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship as the first ever Champion was crowned in the final race of the 2024 season. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) rode an outstanding race to seal the Championship, but it went down to the last corner of the race for it to be decided, as her closest rival Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) crashed out of contention before the final straight.

Ana Carrasco, the 27-year-old Spanish rider therefore made history as she became the first ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion, adding this title to her name along with the 2018 Supersport 300 World Championship title. Herrera achieved second in the 2024 Championship standings ahead of Race 2 winner Sanchez who took third.

WorldWCR Race 2 Results