2024’s KEY MOMENTS: Toprak’s battles to greatness with epic first BMW wins in Barcelona
A sign of things to come: Race 1 and the Superpole Race go down as instant classics in WorldSBK history
Barcelona’s festival of WorldSBK action brought not only the round’s biggest-ever attendance but history being made. In just his fourth race with BMW, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) silenced his doubters as he took a first win with the German manufacturer and with it, one of the most significant in his career. He also doubled up with a superb Superpole Race win, passing Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the last corner on the last lap, replicating Valentino Rossi, to showcase a fine performance in the Catalan capital. Enjoy Race 1 and Race 2 here as well as an international reaction to the Superpole Race’s last lap here – don’t forget to subscribe for more!
RACE 1 STRATEGY: how experience – and lack of – helped Toprak to win #1 with BMW
In what is always a race of smartness vs pace, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was rampant in his approach in the first half of the race, leading Razgatlioglu by over four seconds going into the last ten laps. However, the Italian rookie’s startling pace wasn’t worrying a consistent and more reserved Toprak, who was less than two seconds away going into the last two laps before pouncing with more tyre life under him at Turn 5 on the last lap. Holding on until the flag, it’s exactly what the #54 was hired for and the celebrations and screaming of “we did it!” in the BMW box told the story.
SUPERPOLE RACE SENSATION: anything Valentino Rossi can do…
The Superpole Race welcomed more of the same, this time against the other factory Ducati of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). He hit the front and going into the last sector and Turn 10, it seemed it was job done. Toprak’s DNA is different however and inspired by Valentino Rossi’s last lap, last corner pass from the 2009 Catalan MotoGP™, Razgatlioglu did the same and made it two from two. Crew chief Phil Marron’s cheering of “come on, come on!” emphasised just how big these first two wins of the year were in terms of Toprak’s title-winning season.
2025 LOADING: relive all the drama from 2024 and further back with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
