Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) got off to a flying start in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visit to the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours as he led a BMW 1-2-3 in Free Practice 1. The #54 was, as he traditionally is, rapid as soon as pit lane opened to move into first place and held it throughout the session that kicked off the Motul French Round, as Razgatlioglu led Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team).

Razgatligolu was quick out of the blocks as usual to claim top spot in the first run, and he tightened his grip on P1 with a 1’36.347s; the first rider to break into the 1’36s barrier in the 45-minute Free Practice 1 session. His time was around a second slower than the pole lap record, and three tenths down on the race lap record. He was closely followed by American star, who put in two fast laps at the end of the session to move into P2, just 0.353s away from ‘El Turco’ and the only other rider in the 1’36s bracket. It’s been a strong start for the German manufacturer, with van der Mark claiming third place after the Dutchman set a 1’37.016s. It’s the first time that three BMWs have finished 1-2-3 since FP1 at Monza back in 2012.

Behind the trio of BMWs were two Ducatis, with Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) setting a 1’37.036s to just pip teammate Alvaro Bautista, heading into the round with a 2025 deal in his pocket. The #1 finished around a tenth behind his teammate. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took sixth place after posting a 1’37.285s, with the Brit having to pull off a huge save in the early stages of FP1.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was the lead Yamaha rider as he claimed seventh place, lapping just over a second away from Razgatlioglu’s time. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was eighth ahead of Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth, with the #45 ensuring all four BMW M 1000 RR machines were in the top ten. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) rounded out the top ten as he enjoyed a strong start to his French Round.

The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’36.347s

2. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.353s

3. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.669s

4. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.689s

5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.768s

6. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.938s

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