Bikesportnz

Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlıoglu triumphed once again at Donington Park at the weekend, the FIM Superbike World Championship’s historic birthplace, snatching the championship points lead.

He backed up his incredible victory on Saturday from the fifth row of the grid with another sensational win in race two on Sunday.

To start with, 24-year-old Razgatlıoglu (Yamaha) set about the business of securing a better grid position for race two in the 10-lap Superpole Race.

With a drying track being declared a “Wet Race”, there was no option but to run on intermediate tyres in the slightly damp conditions. With sixth position at the chequered flag and fastest lap of the race, he was able to start from the second row in the afternoon.

Earlier in the day, his crew chief Phil Marron predicted that the race would be dry – and while spots of rain on the grid threatened otherwise – he proved to be right.

The dry circuit led to another no-holds-barred fight between the team’s Turkish rider and British Kawasaki man Jonathan Rea for the first 10 laps until Rea made a mistake on the entry to Coppice Corner.

With Rea failing to score any points, Razgatlıoglu takes the series lead by a slim margin of two points – the first time a Yamaha rider has led the production-based championship since its return to WorldSBK in 2016.

The fifth round of the championship awaits, with the Brixx WorldSBK at the TT Circuit Assen, The Netherlands, in less than three weeks’ time, from 23-25 July.

“The Superpole Race was not so good, I tried my best but it was a sixth position finish with the intermediate tyres,” said Razgatlıoglu.

“I hoped that we would see dry conditions for race two because this is the important race and I need to be at the front. The race was not easy because every lap I was pushing for the win.

“I followed Jonathan (Rea, Kawasaki) and the race track grip was not like yesterday, because three times I almost lose the front tyre! And I say, ‘okay, now I follow Jonny and we see near the end’ but he made a big mistake and crashed, so after that I try for a consistent lap time and bring the bike back to the team.

“I think my favourite track is Donington Park, because in 2018 and 2019 I was on the podium two times in second position. This year, two victories, so I am really happy and I want again to thank my team.

“In Assen, I like the track but it will be the first time I ride the R1 there – but I think no problem, I am looking forward to it!”

Razgatlıoglu won the 2015 European Superstock 600 Championship aboard a Kawasaki ZX-6R. He competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2013 and 2014, finishing 10th and 6th overall respectively.

He won his debut race in the European Superstock 600 Championship on 5 October 2014 at Magny Cours aboard a Kawasaki ZX-6R.

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