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Having scored just twenty points in Australia as the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship kick off, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) left the opening round knowing it would be a different story in 2025. A recent test at Portimao paints another different story. Australia didn’t go according to plan for Razgatlioglu, but the Turkish superstar looks set to bounce back this weekend at Portimao. Last year’s hat-trick proved the crescendo of Toprak’s dominance and Round 2 of 2025 should see it mark the return to form for the reigning World Champion.

RAZGATLIOGLU'S TIME TO SHINE: can the #1 be back in P1 at Portimao?

The bookmakers have Toprak at longer odds than you’d expect for the title, but they should be rewriting their ledgers in sharp order after the recent test in the Algarve. Topping both days came as little surprise for Razgatlioglu but his pace and consistency was the punctuation to a strong week. Dominant single lap pace saw him top both days by four and sixth tenths, but it was the longer runs that really dazzled. After an injury-filled winter, Razgatlioglu arrived in Australia under prepared. The much-discussed BMW package changed considerably in the lead-up to Phillip Island and has taken time for Toprak to fully exploit. He now looks primed and ready to do this and there is no better venue than Portimao for him. Toprak’s style, as proved by his six wins and 13 podiums here, is suited perfectly to this undulating, modern day classic. 

The cockiness of BMW was taken down a notch at the opening round. That won’t do any harm through the year as they’ve been reminded that winning is never a guarantee. At the recent test Razgatlioglu, teammate Michael van der Mark, plus Sylvan Guintoli and Markus Reiterberger from the test team, were all on track. The data from all helps to form the package and after the challenges of the winter that accumulated data is now being set to work. 

A BIG FIGHT AT THE FRONT: Bulega aiming to extend his winning run…

The opening round saw a dominant week for Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) but he crashed at the test, at the fast Turn 15. He’ll need to bounce back from that and find some feeling because at the test he was struggling. Never quite able to get the right balance from his Panigale V4 R led to question marks following the test. He was still fast, but he wasn’t quite fast enough. As Ducati’s team leader and title challenger the pressure in year two is very different to last year as a rookie. The horde of Ducati’s are likely to be strong again at Portimao. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) all had reason to leave the opening round pleased with their efforts. They’ll be in the mix again this week.

YAMAHA TO MAKE A STEP? Locatelli joined by O’Halloran as Rea’s replacement

Superconcession parts should help Yamaha this year, but it remains to be seen if they’ll have them available for Round 2. They certainly won’t have Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) available. The six-time Champion is still licking his wounds from Australia and working hard to recover. He was as motivated as ever going into 2025 and the sooner he’s fit and ready to return the better. Jason O'Halloran will take his place this weekend. The experienced Australian has switched from British Superbikes to the World Endurance Championship for 2025 and has impressed Yamaha with his speed since moving to the YART squad. ‘O'Show’ was a 25 times race winner for Yamaha in BSB and will be excited to see how he fares compared to the regular WorldSBK riders on the R1. 

BACK AGAINST THE WALL: Razgatlioglu to come out swinging…

The front of the field is where the interest will be, however. Australia was Bulega’s race with the invitation passed out to the rest of the field to try and challenge him. The reigning Champion struggled and after Round 1 Razgatlioglu felt backed into a corner. He’s at his most dangerous with his back to the wall and he looks ready to come out swinging in the Algarve.

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