Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) topped a wet and dramatic Free Practice 1 session in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito Estoril. The #54 was three tenths clear of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in second as a wet track greeted the field for the Estoril Round, but ‘El Turco’ was able to claim P1 ahead of his rivals to strike first at what could be a potential title-deciding weekend.

Razgatlioglu was one of the last riders to venture out on track before he set his 1’52.344s to claim P1, despite a huge moment at the final corner as he set his fastest time of the 45-minute session. It was enough to finish three tenths clear of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in second with the #9 improving his lap towards the end of the session. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured third place with a 1’52.778s despite a crash at Turn 6 in what turned into a chaotic final 10 minutes of the session.

He was two tenths clear of Britain’s Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) in fourth. Mackenzie, whose sole WorldSSP win came at Most in mixed conditions, posted a 1’52.994s to lead the Honda charge although he was one of several crashes in the closing stages when he came off his CBR1000RR-R at Turn 7. He was ahead of six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) with the #65 seemingly enjoying the wet conditions until he crashed at Turn 9 in the closing stages. Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) took sixth, nine tenths down on Razgatlioglu’s pace.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), currently second in the Championship, took P7 although he lost some running after he came off his Panigale V4 R at Turn 6 around halfway through the session. He finished four tenths clear of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in eighth, with ‘Loka’ another who fell victim to the difficult conditions. He crashed at Turn 9 with around 15 minutes to go. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) secured P9 ahead of Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) in P10.

There were several other crashes in the session. Ivo Lopes (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda), standing in for Adam Norrodin, came down at Turn 7 while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed at Turn 12. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) returned to WorldSBK action following his training injury and finished in 23^rd place, with the Swiss rider’s participation in the remainder of the weekend to be determined after FP2.

The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’52.344s
2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.306s
3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.434s
4. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) +0.650s
5. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.885s
6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.903s

Don’t miss WorldSBK Free Practice 2 at 15:00 Local Time (UTC+1) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €9.99!