Alvaro Bautista had everything go his way as he claimed an historic 18th win of the season in style, while main title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu suffered a strange crash out of the lead to damage his title chances.

A dry race after a weekend of mixed conditions brought lap after lap of close racing at the Autodrom Most for the Czech Superbike round of the WorldSBK championship.

Toprak Razgatlioglu once again started from pole after his hard fought  win in the Superpole race earlier in the day but it was again Axel Bassani who got a huge launch to initially lead.

That was short lived as the Motocorsa Racing rider sent his Ducati flying over the gravelat the start of lap two, leaving Bautista to take over out front.

The Aruba.it Racing rider had main rival Razgatlioglu for company with the pair duelling it out. It became almost routine, once ahead that the Spaniard would use his horsepower down the straight, occasionally being timed as leading over the line, with the Yamaha blocking and holding down the inside at turn one to retain the lead.

Razgatlioglu DNF brings points advantage

It was repeated until lap seventeen, when with just six laps remaining and clear of his turn one recovery move, the Turkish rider was sent flying from his Pata Yamaha, his highside leaving the bike on track and rider bewildered.

Alvaro Bautista was back in play in a much elevated grid position for the first time this weekend, with a third place start  after a podium finish in the sprint assuring a slice through the pack was not necessary. Running at the front he immediately used evasive moves to miss the strewn motorcycle – and was clear out in front.

It was later revealed to be a rear tyre failure, with blisters, delamination and a puncture for Razgatlioglu.

Leading over the line by a comfortable 4.652s Bautista made history – his 50th race win achieved, it also marked the first time that a rider has claimed eighteen wins in a season.

The win also meant that a different manufacturer won each race in a meet for the first time since Portimao 2021.

Bautista’s win restores his title lead too – coming into the Czech round the lead stood at 70 points and after the superpole race that had dropped to an advantage of 49. With all Razgatlioglu’s hard work undone, Bautista has claimed an increased advantage from his win, now with a 74 point gap.

Petrucci stages comeback for second.

It was Jonathan Rea who was sat in behind the drama ahead. Once that duo was split all the action arrived at his door as Danilo Petrucci chased him down for some spectacular late race action.

From eighth after a comeback performance earlier in the day, the Barri Spark rider slowly worked his way forward. First working past Michael Rinaldi, the Ducati man then had Rea in his sights with  just two laps remaining.

The man from Ballymena tried desperately to hold on, but Petrucci put it all on the line. Committed, he went through at the start of the lap, only for Rea to slide back under at turn one. A push of Ducati horsepower saw the Italian pull ahead again, with a block seeing him in front and hold on to take second at the chequered flag.

Rea continued his strong run in the Czech Republic, backing up his win in race one and second in the Superpole race with third for Kawasaki, so although he missed out on second the Northern Irish rider still recorded a best for the season.

 

2023 World Superbike Most, Czech Republic – Race (2) Results Pos Rider Nat Team Time 1 Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.It Racing Ducati 22 laps 2 Danilo Petrucci ITA Barni Spark Racing Team +4.652s 3 Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +4.725s 4 Axel Bassani ITA Motocorsa Ducati +4.786s 5 Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.It Racing Ducati +7.538s 6 Remy Gardner AUS GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +10.717s 7 Andrea Locatelli ITA Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +12.455s 8 Scott Redding GBR ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team +13.273s 9 Xavi Vierge SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +17.925s 10 Loris Baz FRA Bonovo Action BMW +18.091s 11 Dominique Aegerter SWI GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +18.501s 12 Iker Lecuona SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +18.586s 13 Philipp Oettl GER GoEleven Ducati +23.138s 14 Alex Lowes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +25.547s 15 Michael Van Der Mark NED ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team +41.166s 16 Roberto Tamburini ITA PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing +50.118s 17 Isaac Vinales SPA TPR by Vinales Racing +53.767s 18 Tito Rabat SPA Puccetti Kawasaki +54.616s 19 Hannes Soomer EST PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing +1 lap 20 Garrett Gerloff USA Bonovo Action BMW +2 laps 21 Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK DNF 22 Oliver Konig CZE Orelac Racing Kawasaki DNF 23 Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA GMT94 Yamaha DNF 24 Eric Granado BRA PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing DNF

Bassani bites back for fourth.

After running wide early in the race Axel Bassani carefully navigated the gravel, losing the lead but rejoining in twelfth.

Like Petrucci, he too worked his way forward through the pack, picking of rivals one by one all the time closing on the leaders.

With the riders fighting ahead the Ducati rider was able to be in with a shout of a podium finish, but had to settle for fourth after an impressive comeback, with second to fourth almost a photo finish over the line.

Rinaldi finished fifth, after being passed by two private Ducati riders.

Sixth went to Remy Gardner, who pulled clear of Andrea Locatelli’s Pata Yamaha for GYTR GRT Yamaha.

The Italian, in turn had space over eight placed Scott Redding, who was well clear of the battle for ninth aboard his Rokit BMW.

That was lead at the chequered flag by Xavi Vierge, a strong result following his DNF in the superpole race. The top Honda, he held off advances from Loris Baz who placed tenth, Dominique Aegerter in eleventh and Iker Lecuona who placed twelfth.

The final points places were filled by Philipp Oettl, Alex Lowes, who went off track early in the race when in sixth, and Michael van der Mark in 15th.

Most World Superbike records

Fastest Lap: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 1m 30.947s
Most Victories: Toprak Razgatlioglu (4)

2022 results:

Race 1: Alvaro Bautista
Superpole Race: Toprak Razgatlioglu
Race 2: Toprak Razgatlioglu

Last Round (Imola):

Race 1: Alvaro Bautista
Superpole Race: Toprak Razgatlioglu
Race 2: Toprak Razgatlioglu

This round so far: 
Race 1: Jonathan Rea (Razgatlioglu, Petrucci) 
Superpole Race: Toprak Razgatlioglu (Rea, Bautista)

Garrett Gerloff was the first faller – he rejoined but finished two laps down. Lorenzo Balsdassarri and eric Granado also suffered early exits. A disappointed Oliver Konig ended his home race experience by pulling into the pits.

It leaves the championship with Bautista with an improved advantage, a perfect result or him to apply the chasing pressure back onto Toprak Razgatlioglu after an exit that was no fault of his own as the championship enters it’s summer break – WorldSBK returns in Magny- Cours over the weekend 8-10 September.

 

 

Results from the Superpole race at round eight of the 2023 World Superbike championship from Most in the Czech Republic.

Toprak Razgatlioglu fought his way to the front of the Superpole race opening Sunday’s WorldSBK action in Most, Czech Republic, round eight of the championship.

Razgatlioglu continued an incredible run of form at Most, having featured on the podium at every race held at the Czech track.

All the riders lined up on slicks after a wet race one, with the softer zero tyre the one of choice.

Starting from pole, the Yamaha rider had victory in his sights but immediately had work to to with Axel Bassani getting a fantastic start, with pressure also coming from race one winner Jonathan Rea.

It wasn’t long into the sprint before the lead changed hands, with the #54 putting in a huge lunge for the lead at turn fifteen on lap four, with Rea quick to follow.

The lead three split with a fierce battle for position over the limited laps, which allowed Bassani to keep in touch as the duo ahead traded fastest laps.

As the lap ticked off Razgatlioglu pulled the pin to lead over the line by 1.203s, celebrating by collecting a Turkish flag to tour around with, before losing it as he celebrated his fifth win at Most in eight races.

With a victory at Autodrom Most in his 399th start, Rea didn’t set a time in warm-up as extreme changes were made to his Kawasaki overnight, continuing to right before the race start.

Those alterations paid off as the Northern Irish kept a second win in his sights right to the line for a superb second in hos 400th race.

Bautista battles back for podium

Alvaro Bautista was in the hunt for his 50th WSBK win. Launching from down in 14th the reigning champion had the odds stacked against him, but with a preferred tyre underneath him and no need for the pit stop which affected his race one massively, the Spaniard fought back hard.

Escapiing the crash filled first few corners, the Ducati rider was up a massive nine positions to fifth after just one lap – but his damage limitation mission was not over.

Next in line was his teammate at Aruba.It racing, Ruben Rinaldi, who put up limited resistance, allowing the championship leader to chase down the lead trio over the closing laps.

Starting with a three second gap, Bautista demolished it to quickly arrive on the back wheel of Bassani on the penultimate lap.

The last lap of the race saw thw #1 bike make it’s move claiming a valuable podium finish as the title lead was once again cut.

Bautista began the weekend with a 70 point advantage, which was cut to 54 after race one. Hie efforts to stem the damage sees the gap lessen again but only by a further four points to 49, with an improved front row start beckoning for race 2.

2023 World Superbike Most, Czech Republic Superpole Race Results Pos Rider Nat Team Time 1 Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK 10 Laps 2 Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK 1.203s 3 Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.It Racing Ducati 2.968s 4 Axel Bassani ITA Motocorsa Ducati 3.180s 5 Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.It Racing Ducati 5.310s 6 Remy Gardner AUS GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team 8.205s 7 Alex Lowes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK 8.375s 8 Danilo Petrucci ITA Barni Spark Racing Team 9.021s 9 Garrett Gerloff USA Bonovo Action BMW 10.165s 10 Iker Lecuona SPA Team HRC WorldSBK 13.017s 11 Dominique Aegerter SWI GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team 14.448s 12 Loris Baz FRA Bonovo Action BMW 14.749s 13 Scott Redding GBR ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team 17.880s 14 Michael Van Der Mark NED ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team 20.022s 15 Tito Rabat SPA Puccetti Kawasaki 27.182s 16 Isaac Vinales SPA TPR by Vinales Racing 28.010s 17 Eric Granado BRA PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing 28.264s 18 Roberto Tamburini ITA PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing 31.741s 19 Hannes Soomer EST PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing 38.884s 20 Oliver Konig CZE Orelac Racing Kawasaki 55.685s 21 Philipp Oettl GER GoEleven Ducati 2 laps 22 Xavi Vierge SPA Team HRC WorldSBK DNF 23 Andrea Locatelli ITA Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK DNF 24 Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA GMT94 Yamaha DNF

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31.07.2022 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Evan Bros. Yamaha’s Lorenzo Baldassarri ended a nine-race win-drought with a double victory at Most in the red-flagged WorldSSP final race.

Having led for the majority of the shortened 15-lap race, Aruba Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega was denied the spoils in a late-race move by the R6 machine, with the Italian forced to settle fro second. Dynavolt Triumph’s Stefano Manzi claiming his second podium in the class in quick succession after Saturday’s debut success, in third.

The second Supersport race prepared with controversy surging the championship leader Dominique Aegerter. The Ten Kate rider initially ruled out due to concussion before later being suspended from the action due to sanctions over his behaviour following the race one crash – Aegerter admitting to ‘simulating a medical situation in order to force a race stoppage’.

Saturday victor Baldassarri lined up on pole for the second bout ahead of the Ducatis of Federico Caricasulo and Bulega. The Althea rider one of the five taken out at the start of the first contest and hoping for a better showing this time around.

As the lights released for the 19-lap action, Baldassarri maintained his advantage front an all-Italian trio behind him. Caricasulo leading Bulega and Puccetti’s Yari Montella as turn one saw a number of riders run wide.

Bulega was up on his countryman for second as lap two began, Andy Verdoia sitting fifth on the GMT94 Yamaha as Issac Viñales crashed the DG34 Ducati out at turn 10.

Can Öncü joined his teammate in the top six after a determined move on both Verdoia and MTM Kawasaki’s Adrian Huertas. Montella falling in the opposite direction as he dropped to seventh with Orelac’s Raffaele de Rosa, Manzi and CM Racing’s Max Kofler rounded out the top ten.

Bulega was honing in on Baldassarri as just two-tenths separated the pair with four laps complete. Caricasulo over half a second adrift of the battling pair before Öncü dispatched the Althea following a trip through the gravel.

The Aruba rider was in charge on lap five and pulling an immediate quarter of a second gap in the initial stages. Caricasulo forced to battle hard with Huertas for fifth as his gap tot eh leaders increased after the off track excursion.

A crash for Oli Bayliss grounded the Barni Ducati rider at turn 15 with 13 laps to go as GMT94 stand-in Valentin Debise advanced to ninth. Manzi making his own moves further up on his way to fifth and with a second podium firmly in his sights.

Montella was the next to fall, this time at turn 21, with a double crash following at the same corner involving Patrick Hobelsberger and Max Kofler. Kyle Smith caught out on the VFT Yamaha one corner earlier next time around.

Manzi captured Caricasulo at the halfway stage as Bahattin Sofuoglu rose to seventh on the MV Agusta. Bulega maintaining his lead by the smallest of margins as Baldassarri remained in check out front.

The Triumph was down to sixth after running wide as Caricasulo and Huertas capitalised on the mistake. The Italian quickly regrouping on the Kawasaki before advancing back on the Ducati to retake fourth once again. Sofuoglu following suit to dispatch Caricasulo for fifth next time around.

Manzi set the fastest lap of the race as the final five fired up, Öncü and the podium less than a quarter of a second away from the Italian after securing his debut one day earlier. The move was secured in the final sector with the Triumph storming down the straight as the next lap kicked in. Steven Odendaal crashing out and De Rosa retiring on the side of the track as the red flag came out for the stricken riders.

Baldassarri, having just got through on Bulega for the lead – and securing the position at the last completed timing point – was awarded the victory with the Evan Bros Yamaha rider taking two from two in the Czech Republic and reducing his defict in the standings to just 14 points.

A frustrated Bulega settled for second from Manzi with Turkish training partners Öncü and Sofuoglu rounding out the top five. Caricasulo headed Huertas, Debise, Hannes Soomer, and Niki Tuuli with Peter Sebestyen, Verdoia, Leonardo Taccini, Marcel Brenner and Glenn van Straalen completing the points finishers.

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31.07.2022 |
Christina Bulpett |
WorldSBK

Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu secured a perfect Sunday with victory from pole in the final WorldSBK race at Autodrom Most.

Championship leader Alvaro Bautista maintained his control of the standings with second position on the Aruba.it Ducati over Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea with BMW’s Scott Redding continuing his building fortunes in fourth.

WorldSBK race two prepared without both Alex Lowes and Eugene Laverty as the Kawasaki rider succumbed to his ailing health woes and the Bonovo rider was declared unfit due to ‘functional impairment of his right arm’.

Razgatlioglu returned to head the grid after his Superpole victory with title-rivals Rea and Bautista alongside on the front row. BMW’s race one podium-sitter Redding lining up from the middle of row three, in eighth.

The reigning champion held the holeshot as Bautista shot to second. Rea demoted to fifth and directly into a battle with the BMW before gaining on the second Aruba of Michael Rinaldi for fourth. Motocorsa’s Axel Bassani on the edge of the podium before both the Italian and Northern Irishman advanced to dispatch him back to fifth.

Razgatlioglu held more than a half-second lead by the second lap with a pair of Ducatis aiming to reel him in. The Turkish rider responding with the fastest lap of the race so far as Rea returned to podium contention and his sights on Bautista ahead. Rinaldi and Redding remaining in check as the top five riders were covered by just over a second.

Rinaldi slid out of a move on Rea at the opening corner as lap four fired up. Bassani now six tenths back from the podium places with Redding over two seconds clear of Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli in sixth.

Bautista took a look at the leader as the battle intensified out front. Honda’s Iker Lecuona heading GRT’s Garrett Gerloff, Xavi Vierge and Bonovo’s Loris Baz in the top ten before the Frenchman crashed out at the close of lap five.

Bautista took a gamble at the close of the home straight before running on at turn one and losing a position to Rea. Redding doing a similar move as he returned to the track in fourth.

Rea was in charge next time around as he bettered Razgatlioglu at turn one. The pair battling hard as Bautista looked to reduce the one-second deficit and Redding began to take a look at Bassani, having had to give the position back to the Italian after the earlier shortcut.
Positions changed once again as the R1 took charge. The Spaniard utilising the distracted pair to bridge the gap with the trio running less than half a second apart with 14 laps still to run.

Redding was up to fourth after a continuing fight with Bassani. Two seconds the gap to the title challengers ahead as Bautista returned to the front down the straight with all three inseparable as the next lap played out. Rea quickly making his move to command proceeding at the halfway stage.

The leading pair continued to bicker as Razgatlioglu held back slightly to watch the show. Looking for the perfect opportunity to capitalise as contact threatened at almost every turn. The Ducati through again as it powered down the straight and pulling a two-tenth gap by the second sector.

Eight to go and the leading battle had far from faded. Razgatlioglu through to second with a decisive move on the Kawasaki at his usual turn one, the pair continuing to challenge each other as the next laps unfolded with Bautista unable to check out ahead.

Razgatlioglu flickered to the front before the Panigale struck back. The R1 returning the shot seconds later to take command with six to go. The daunting power of the Ducati down the straight clear to see but the defending champion dominant on the brakes once again.

Four to go, a fastest lap of the race under his belt and Razgatlioglu looked to have broken the pursuing pair behind. Eight-tenths now the advantage as Rea began to take a look at Bautista. Redding five seconds off the fight with a further two to Bassani in fifth and the remaining top ten riders running solitary races with around two seconds apiece between them all.

One lap later and the Pata rider held a strong one-second lead, continuing to set the pace with another fastest lap in the closing stages. Lecuona retiring from the race with a technical issue to deny his continuing clean sweep of top ten finishes in his rookie season.

The chequered flag flying found Razgatlioglu victorious from Bautista and Rea. Redding coming home best of the rest from Bassani and Locatelli with the remaining Honda of Vierge, Philipp Oettl, Lucas Mahias and Luca Bernardi completing the top ten. Gerloff unlucky with his own technical issues on the final lap as he dropped to out of the points completely. Roberto Tamburini, Hafizh Syahrin and Kohta Nozane sitting 11th to 13th as Peter Hickman completed his second wildcard showing with two points ahead of Tati Mercado. Home hero Oliver Konig narrowly missing out in 16th ahead of Pedercini’s Ryan Vickers and the disappointed Gerloff.

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01.08.2022 |
Gordon Ritchie at Most |
WorldSBK

Peter Hickman stood-in for the still not fully recovered Michael van der Mark in the official WorldSBK BMW Motorrad team at Most, and duly picked up points at the endlessly flowing Czech circuit.

He was enjoying the experience, especially as it was somewhere else this time.

“Yeah, I’ve done three WorldSBK rounds up to now, but they’ve all been at Donington. Then this weekend is the first round in WorldSBK outside of the UK, which is nice,” Hickman told bikesportnews.com.

“So, something new for me. I’ve never been to Most before. The circuit is really, really good. I actually love the circuit. The circuit is mega. Obviously, I’ve not ridden this bike here with the world superbike BMW team before. The bike is actually pretty good.”

Hickman is not on quite the same level – or at least modernity – of material as the other regular riders, it seems.

“I’m running older stuff, if you like. I’ve got the old swing arm and different forks and all the rest of it. So, I’m not where Scott is, from a materials side. But to be honest, I’m not going to be fighting for a podium anyway. So, we’re very realistic. I’m here to try and help and evaluate some things as much as possible and try and be as fast as possible.”

Hickman made a good transition and scored points, which is truly no easy feat in such a level championship with the riding line up it enjoys nowadays. And given he is upwards of 40kg heavier than the likes of Andrea Locatelli.

“It’s interesting because position-wise it looks shit, but when you look at the data between even me and Scott, there’s not that much difference,” said Hickman.

“It’s just all the little bits end up being a big bit at the end. There’s actually not much between us in a lot of areas. So, that’s quite a nice thing for me to know. I’m learning as much as possible.

I’ve actually changed the bike probably more than what I ever normally would do, which is difficult because then you ride a different bike every single time you ride it. It’s not ideal. It takes longer then to learn, and you don’t ever get the absolute maximum out of the bike. But, we also want to evaluate some things and get some data for BMW. So, that’s what I’m here for.”

In the previous WorldSBK days, when wildcards were more prevalent than nowadays, all riders would have the potential for two bikes in the garage, and far more practice time at each round, with four long session before qualifying even began.

“Which would have been nice for me,” he agreed. “Two 45-minute sessions and a half an hour session here today. The (FP3) half an hour session was wet (on Saturday) anyway, so I actually lost that half an hour. So, I only really have had an hour and a half, and then a 15-minute qualifier and then a race.”

01.08.2022 |
Gordon Ritchie at Most |
WorldSBK

No WorldSBK race win for Jonathan Rea since Estoril, but the mixture of his skills and experience, allied to a bike that he and his team know so well, means that he still came away from a difficult track for him in 2021 with two Sunday podiums.

He said it was all a great improvement on last year, so he was as satisfied as he could be without actually taking a wins home. Especially in raxce two.

“I just feel we’re getting everything out of the package,” he said. “You can’t see the mistakes, but when I make a tiny mistake, miss an apex or just lose some time, it’s really difficult to recover.

“With Alvaro and also Toprak, we’re really struggling with engine management and wheelie control, exiting all these first-gear corners. So, exiting the first corner I was just losing ground. If I do everything perfect – brake, acceleration, lean angle – I can just be there, but it’s so difficult to do this every lap consistently.

“So, we need some assistance in this area to make it more easy to manage. Because the gap Alvaro would take from me on the start line, and then also the exit of T1, the effort I made through six, seven, eight, nine, I would be there in ten. I would be there with a heart rate of 310 beats a minute.

“I was so in stress, because the risk you’re taking to be there. So, it was a difficult race. Then I’d spend a little bit of the lap to recover, just to do it all over again, and again, and again. So, it was a difficult race that way. I didn’t make so many mistakes.

“I had to ‘give in’ at the end and let them guys go and just finish my race. Like I said, much better than last year, so I think we can take a lot of positives out of it.”

So is this the worst circuit for the Kawasaki?

“I’m expecting another challenging weekend. There’s one round that I’m not really looking forward to, but the rest I think we can be strong, or stronger than the rest. When I sat down and thought about the championship, thought about the rounds we have the points to win the championship, with three guys battling.

“I feel good with what we’ve done at the halfway point. We’re reflecting. We’re there. Very close. Three guys battling. Of course, everybody has their day. I had three strong weekends at the start of the year.

The last three have been more of a challenge, but everyone can talk always about the last race but I try to think about the big picture, reset. Magny-Cours is very good. Portimao is very good. I think Barcelona can be good. So, let’s see.”

Alvaro Bautista ran on into T1 at one stage, coming back onto the track, but it was Razgatlioglu who was the main force in the final race, with a pace none of his rivals could match.

Regarding Bautista’s error, Rea said, “I didn’t think he was penalised too much. He pretty much rejoined right behind me again, after making a big mistake. But, I felt Toprak slower in the beginning, in this middle part of the race.

“Then when I went past, I think Bautista also went past, and Bautista went past me, I think then Toprak was able to turn the switch and go. When he made the pass on Alvaro, he did a very good lap. Not to allow Alvaro to repass in the straight. From there, his pace was relentless. So, he did a really good race management, really good job. So, props to him.”

Next up for Rea is the Suzuka Eight-Hours race, which he was heading to right after the Most weekend.

01.08.2022 |
Gordon Ritchie at Most |
WorldSBK

As if being involved in a first-race, first-corner pile-up was not enough at Most, 2021 WorldSSP Champion and points leader Dominique Aegerter found himself unable to start race two as he was banned.

Two no scores when it could well have been another two wins. The melee at turn one was unfortunate for him, but it was his actions right afterwards that got him into serious trouble with the racing bosses.

Standing up to get to his bike, he suddenly fell on the floor again, and it looked like he was hurt or concussed. With Aegerter surrounded by marshals the race went on, and no red flag was thrown.

Initial reports afterwards were that he had suffered a concussion, and a medical inspection even came to that conclusion – we must presume as no other cause was found for falling back down after standing up.

Aegerter even backed up his injury claim in an official statement, but there had been no concussion, putting the blame on Aegerter for simulation.

After investigation his actions led the FIM to impose a one race ban on Aegerter, which was enacted for race two at Most.

The FIM sanction statement read, “…you simulated a medical situation in order to delay the recovery process and in this way to force the stoppage of the race by a red flag. This is confirmed by your admission of such in a written document.”

Pretending to be injured is very unsportsmanlike behaviour, not something the motorbike racers are known for. They usually get up while injured, not the opposite. But every time the marshals and medics have to leave the safety barriers to attend to stricken riders, they are at risk. And in this case, for no valid reason. Fred Merkel did it at Mallory Park one year.

Aegerter eventually acknowledged reality and issued an apology, saying, “First of all, I am sorry about the whole situation that arose after the incident in race one. As it was a very hectic situation, I did not act correctly and made mistakes. There was a lot of pressure, adrenaline and emotions. I never wanted to put other people in danger; I want to apologise for that.”

Not only did his very high currency as a runaway leader diminish at Most, but with no scores and two wins for his biggest championship rival Baldassarri, Aegerter’s previously vast championship lead has now been cut to only 14 at the halfway point of the season.

02.08.2022 |
Gordon Ritchie at Most |
WorldSBK

One race win and two other podiums saw WorldSBK championship leader Alvaro Bautista move 31 points ahead of Jonathan Rea, but lose some ground to double race winner Toprak Razgatlioglu, who is now a reduced 38 points back from the lead.

At the beginning of the weekend the lack of an SCX tyre for the long races was a big deal. They said it would disadvantage the smaller, lighter riders who could use it in even the longer races.

But for Bautista, the reality was that whatever tyre he had, he was still competitive. “Nobody knows what happened to the tyre,” said Bautista. “This was the tyre. This was the races, that’s all. We don’t have to think about if the other tyre… The other tyre is there. Here it is this. At the end we can make the tyre work. We were also competitive with this tyre.”

As the points and three stunning WorldSBK races at Most suggest, it is a Bautista, Rea and Razgatlioglu fight, and it has been up close and personal more than once.

Now Bautista has had a chance to compare the riding styles and characteristics of his two main rivals, what does he see?

“The difference between both is that maybe battling with Toprak, if he can go faster than you, he tries to overtake you. At least with me. I don’t speak about Jonathan, because they try every corner to pass each other.

But for me, when he tries to pass me, it’s because he has something that maybe he can go faster. Also he tries to pass you without mistakes. Jonathan is more like, I want to pass you to stay in front of you.

“Maybe I don’t have more, but at least you aren’t in front of me. So, sometimes it’s more for disturbing or concentrating more than he has extra more to go fast. But, both are very difficult to beat.”

Bautista, do you remember, still has a painful hand after his Donington crash. It is not broken, but the ligaments and tendons have been stretched, and he has been able to give it no rest since Donington. And that is what it needs, rest.

“There’s nothing broken, fortunately, but it’s just a little bit of pain,” said Bautista with an ice pack on his swollen right hand. “To recover? Is just to rest. After Donington – I did two races in Donington – I had to do a lot of signatures and the raced of champions at Misano in World Ducati Week.

‘Then here in practice and the races. So I can’t rest the hand, which is the problem. Now, fortunately we have a lot of days to stop and I try to recover as best as possible to be fit for the next race.”

Like a few of the top teams, Bautista will be testing over the summer break.

“Yes, we have a test in Montmelo, on the 21st. It will be an important test to prepare a bit the race there, but also like we did in Misano, we have some ideas that during the weekend we cannot try, so maybe we try there.

“If there is something for the second half of the season, or not and we have the best package we have. A bit of geometry, working with the geometry and everything there. It’s nothing new. Just working with what we have.”

02.08.2022 |
Gordon Ritchie at Most |
WorldSBK

Now on a total of seven WorldSBK race wins in 2022, when what feels like five minutes ago he had struggle dot record even one, Toprak Razgatlioglu and his Pata Yamaha are now back to top form.

He’s won six races now, but he did not enjoy every aspect of Race Two, which he eventually won in fine style. “After fifteen laps, yes, I was enjoying it, but before, no, because we are fighting.”

Strange because Toprak always enjoys a scrap. It’s how he trains, racing other riders on smaller bikes, shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Yeah, always I enjoy to fight. Just one problem. Alvaro’s bike is very fast. I’m not enjoying it on the straight. Braking yes, but I follow him. On the straight, he is very fast. I’m in front of him, I’m enjoying. He just passed me and after, I lost him again in braking. But anyway… a good race.”

On Sunday in the long race Razgatlioglu had enough tyre for all 22 laps, and then used it to great effect near the end.

“Yesterday my rear tyre dropped. Also, I’m not easy pass Jonny and Scott. But today we improved, thanks to my team. Every day we improve, but especially today with a big step. I need rear grip after fifteen laps. First lap I don’t need grip, and also I’m able to keep the tyre.

“After I followed Johnny and Bautista, I see Bautista start to go and pass Johnny, and after I tried to pass Bautista. After I passed Bautista, I rode more relaxed. I see in my board the gap, and I see my lap time more fast. I rode more relaxed.”

Razgatlioglu said it was the greater confidence from his lat tyre grip that saw him ride in a more controlled manner than day one at Most.

“The better feeling with the tyres,” he affirmed. “I was feeling good grip after fifteen laps. Okay, I’m spinning but better than yesterday. Also I saw this 31.7 lap time. I’m feeling good motivation after that because 1’31.7 is a very, very good lap time after fifteen laps.”

In the Superpole Race Razgatlioglu and Rea even touched on the final lap, as Rea dived inside to make a pass in the only place he thought he could make it stick.

For Razgatlioglu, OK, he understood. Having made a hard pass on Scott Redding in Race One on Saturday, and then having Redding complain about him, Razgatlioglu had memories of it in his head when he said, “The first five laps is very good, but after five laps big drop in rear tyre. Also, Johnny was coming. I said, ‘OK, I’m ready to fight again.’

I see that Jonny, the rear grip is much better than me. I need always pass him, because he’s faster than me. The last lap, the corner 15, he’s more strong than me. I try in the middle of the braking the corner. He’s also trying to pass, because just one chance. I’m not strong in this corner. He needs to pass me for the good position. Also, I open a bit late. After he goes wide.

“But anyway, I’m not talking like Scott Redding, because this is the race. Really, this is the race. Sometimes we clash together. Sometimes not. Jonny went wide, and after we finish the race, the respect is together again. This is the race. Everybody tries to be, in the last lap, in a good position. Everybody is fighting for this. This is a part of racing. For me, a very good weekend. Two wins and one second position.”

There was some surprise in the watching fans and commentators that both Razgatlioglu and Rea were fighting early on in the second full 22-lap race, as they had on Saturday. Surely it loses them both valuable lap time, with a potent force like Alvaro Bautista just waiting to pounce?

“Like before, he passed me, I passed him,” said Razgatlioglu. “After, I take his board. Three laps he is not passed me, an after we start again. Sometimes fighting, waiting, and after – start round two, round three. Sometimes it’s not good fighting in the race because the other riders are coming.

But, this race, my plan in the first laps was to try and go ahead – but maybe I need to enjoy with Bautista. After, I followed Johnny and Bautista because I needed to keep the rear tyre for the last laps. It worked well because now we have the win.”

Razgatlioglu, with five race wins in the past six races, would prefer to keep going now rather than have a long summer break of five free weekends. “No, I think better like after Donington we come here. I think better like this. This is too much break. After Donington, this is very good.

“One week free and the other week race again. This is very good. But now, for five weeks, I don’t know. We will miss the bike. We are riders. We need to ride. I don’t like the long break because we re-start the season. This is my job and I love it, this job. I think better one week break, one week race, one week break, one week race. I like this. I don’t like a long break.”

It will not be all holiday for Razgatlioglu, as he joins what appears to be half the paddock at a test in Montmelo in late August. “Yeah, we have a test in Catalunya. After also I am busy. Not a break for me. Just one week, maybe two weeks. After, I go to Catalunya and after I go to Cadwell Park in the UK (for a PR thing). After, I go back home again. Then we go to Magny-Cours.”

03.08.2022 |
Gordon Ritchie |
WorldSBK

You have to have an extraordinary degree of self-motivation and determination to secure multiple titles at anything, and it is no different for six-time WorldSBK champion, Jonathan Rea.

In addition, Rea has always been able to step away from the ‘day job’ and look at the sport from outside as well as inside. He agreed that right now the championship is in extremely good health.

“It’s good. It’s really good,” he said near the end of his media meeting at Most last weekend. “In Donington for example, there were so many fans trackside. That was really nice to be a part of that show.

“Here this weekend, of course more than last year. Superbike is good because everybody is talking about it. Even our friends in the other championships, talking about the racing. I’m proud to be part of that. I think it helps everybody. It helps out us riders profile as well. The championship is getting some respect, as well. At the end, it’s our hobby and our job, but it’s entertainment as well.

“I think three very different riders, manufacturers and nationalities in the front is really healthy and good. I’m proud to be part of it.”

Rea has already voted with his feet by signing up for two more years with KRT, even though he does seem to need some kind of machine upgrade to allow the green bikes and riders to remain competitive.

“It’s tough,” Rea admitted. “I need to really go deep to find my best now every weekend. I’m pushing my team a lot. We’re getting everything out of it and we’re there, but everyone is pushing so hard right now. Everyone is on the limit.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu was a former fellow Kawasaki rider for Rea when he came up to Superbike, and in that period of time Rea helped him to learn and grow. When asked if he feels annoyed that he helped him out in the beginning, Rea laughed it off, saying, “No… he was a Kawasaki young rider coming through.

“I feel it’s also my job to help young riders in this championship. Also when riders are improving. I’ve been here since 2009, so it’s also about keeping the level really high in Superbike. You don’t win a championship here for free. He’s done a really good job last year. He’s riding incredible. Of course, I believe in myself, so I think when all is good, I’m one of the best riders out there. So, if he beats me, then respect. He’s the better guy on the day.”