RACE WEEKEND REPORT | WSBK Jerez 2025

Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured his third Superbike World Championship title after a tense and action-packed final weekend at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto. Despite Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing a stunning hat-trick of victories, the BMW rider’s third-place finish in Race 2 was enough to seal the championship before his move to MotoGP next season.

Race One

The 2025 WorldSBK title battle went down to the wire after Nicolo Bulega dominated Race 1 at Jerez, beating Razgatlioglu by nearly four seconds to delay the title celebrations.

Razgatlioglu made a strong start from the front row and briefly led through Turn 1, but Bulega quickly fought back and took control in the opening sector. Once ahead, the Italian built a comfortable lead, lapping consistently in the 1’38s while his rival struggled to match the pace.

Bulega’s win – his 18th in WorldSBK – kept the title race alive heading into Sunday. Razgatlioglu’s second place extended his podium streak to 25 consecutive finishes, equalling Colin Edwards’ all-time record, while he needed just three more points on Sunday to clinch the crown.

Behind the leading duo, a thrilling scrap for third involved Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven), Álvaro Bautista, Xavi Vierge, and Alex Lowes. Bautista came out on top after a string of daring overtakes, sealing third and strengthening his grip on third in the overall standings. Iannone eventually held off Vierge for fourth as Lowes dropped to sixth.

Superpole Race

Sunday morning brought huge drama as Bulega and Razgatlioglu collided at Turn 5 on the opening lap of the Tissot Superpole Race, sending the Turkish rider into the gravel. The incident, deemed irresponsible riding, earned Bulega a Long Lap Penalty, but the Ducati rider still managed to recover and win the shortened sprint.

The result meant that Razgatlioglu’s title hopes went to the final race, with his championship lead cut to 22 points. To win the title, Bulega needed to claim victory and hope for a non-finish from Razgatlioglu – a near-impossible task, but enough to keep tension high ahead of Race 2.

Álvaro Bautista delivered a solid run to finish second, while Andrea Iannone completed the podium. Alex Lowes and Xavi Vierge rounded out the top five in a race that saw several close battles behind the front group.

Race Two

The final race of the 2025 season provided a fitting climax. Bulega completed his perfect weekend with another dominant win, while Toprak Razgatlioglu finished third – enough to secure his third WorldSBK title and cap off his BMW chapter in style.

Bulega initially lost out to Álvaro Bautista off the line but reclaimed the lead on Lap 2 and built a gap of more than three seconds mid-race. Meanwhile, Razgatlioglu produced a measured performance from tenth on the grid, moving into the podium positions by Lap 9 after overtaking Andrea Locatelli at Turn 6.

With Bulega clear at the front, Bautista settled for second as Ducati locked out a one-two finish. Razgatlioglu brought his BMW home safely in third, securing the title and celebrating with his team as he prepares for his MotoGP debut next year.

Bulega’s victory was his 20th in WorldSBK, and also secured Ducati the Manufacturers’ Championship. Bautista’s second place marked his 128th career podium, closing his chapter with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati on a high.

Razgatlioglu joins an elite list of riders with three or more WorldSBK titles, standing alongside Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss, and Jonathan Rea. For the Turkish rider, the 2025 season ends as one of his finest – a year of dominance, consistency, and history-making performances that confirmed him as one of the greatest Superbike riders of the modern era.

WSBK rider's final standings after Round 12:

1st Toprak Razgatlioglu – 616 points
2nd Nicolo Bulega – 603 points
3rd Alvaro Bautista – 337 points
4th Andrea Locatelli – 310 points
5th Danilo Petrucci – 284 points
6th Alex Lowes – 218 points
7th Xavi Vierge – 185 points
8th Sam Lowes – 184 points
9th Andrea Iannone – 166 points
10th Axel Bassani – 140 points