Toprak Razgatlioglu of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team secured a commanding hat-trick at Round 9 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship held at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France. This performance included wins in the Superpole Race, Race 1, and Race 2, extending his unbeaten streak to eleven consecutive victories across multiple rounds. Razgatlioglu’s consistent pace on the BMW M 1000 RR allowed him to pull away from the field in each encounter, finishing ahead of his closest competitors and accumulating maximum points available from the weekend. Nicolo Bulega of Aruba.it Racing – Ducati placed second in all races, demonstrating strong recovery from earlier season challenges. Bulega’s Ducati Panigale V4 R showed improved handling and tire management, enabling him to challenge for the lead but ultimately settle for runner-up finishes. This result narrowed the gap to Razgatlioglu in the riders’ standings but maintained the Turkish rider’s overall advantage. Alvaro Bautista, the two-time defending champion riding for Ducati Lenovo Team, encountered setup difficulties with his bike, resulting in a fifth-place finish in the Superpole Race, sixth in Race 1, and fourth in Race 2. Despite the setbacks, Bautista remains competitive in the points battle. Sam Lowes of the Marc Márquez WorldSBK Team achieved his best results of the season with a third-place in the Superpole Race on his Ducati, followed by fourth in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2. Lowes benefited from a strategic tire choice in the shorter Superpole format, which allowed for aggressive early laps. Danilo Petrucci of Ducati Lenovo Team rounded out the podium in Race 1 with third place, while Andrea Locatelli of the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK Team secured fourth in the Superpole Race. Jonathan Rea, in his final season with Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, fought back in Race 2 to claim fifth place after starting from a midfield position, showcasing his experience in overtaking maneuvers. In the manufacturers’ championship, BMW solidified its lead thanks to Razgatlioglu’s dominance, with Ducati holding second position through Bulega and Bautista’s combined efforts. Yamaha and Kawasaki trail closely, with Locatelli and Rea contributing key points. The teams’ championship sees ROKiT BMW Motorrad maintaining a substantial lead, followed by Aruba.it Racing – Ducati and Ducati Lenovo Team. The Superpole Race, a ten-lap sprint, set the tone with Razgatlioglu leading from pole position, which he earned in qualifying with a lap time that shaved seconds off the previous circuit record. Race 1 unfolded under dry conditions, where Razgatlioglu built a lead of over five seconds by the midpoint, allowing Bulega and Lowes to battle for second. Race 2 featured a brief safety car period due to debris, but upon restart, Razgatlioglu pulled away decisively, crossing the line more than seven seconds ahead. All races completed the full distance without major incidents, though several riders, including Michael van der Mark of BMW, advanced through the pack with solid sixth and seventh-place finishes. Post-race, Razgatlioglu expressed confidence in breaking his personal record of thirteen straight wins, crediting team adjustments for the bike’s enhanced cornering speed. Bulega highlighted data analysis improvements that aided his consistency, while Rea noted the Kawasaki’s reliability in traffic as a positive for future rounds. The event drew a large crowd to the historic 2.7-mile circuit, known for its flowing layout and elevation changes, which tested rider adaptability. This round’s outcomes have intensified the title fight heading into the next event at Autodrom Most, with Razgatlioglu now holding a 39-point lead over Bulega. Additional wildcards, including MotoAmerica’s Bobby Fong joining on a Kawasaki for the final two rounds, add anticipation to the season’s close. The championship format, featuring three races per round, continues to reward versatility, as evidenced by the varied podium compositions. Technical regulations, including spec electronics and Pirelli tires, ensured close competition among the field of over twenty riders from ten manufacturers.
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