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The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returns to the legendary Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for round nine of the exciting 2025 season. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) holds a points advantage and momentum ahead of the French round, but Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) will be hoping to halt Razgatlioglu's progress at a circuit where he won twice in his rookie season.

THE BATTLE FOR THE NUMBER 1 RANK IN 2025: Can Bulega stop Razgatlioglu's momentum?

“El Turco” leads “Bulegas” by 26 points going into the ninth of twelve rounds in 2025, but the pair had very different experiences at Magny-Cours last year. Razgatlioglu suffered a heavy crash in FP2 that ruled him out of the French and Italian rounds, while Bulega took a one-two finish on Sunday. Razgatlioglu is a serial winner at the French circuit with eight victories and has the chance to make it the third venue where he has won ten or more times. For Bulega, however, it could be his most successful circuit – a hat-trick would bring his tally to five wins, more than at any other track he has won at in WorldSBK. Can Razgatlioglu build on his three hat-tricks after the summer break, or will Bulega be able to catch the reigning champion?

ON THE MEDAL COURSE: Petrucci has the advantage, but Bautista and Locatelli are close

The battle for third place is also still very much on. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) currently leads the standings by 15 points, ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) in fourth. However, Petrucci will receive a boost following the announcement that he will replace Razgatlioglu as the BMW rider when the two-time champion moves to MotoGP in 2026. 'Petrux' took three podium finishes at Magny-Cours last year and will be hoping to consolidate his third place in the standings with more. Locatelli, on the other hand, has only finished on the podium once at Magny-Cours – in his first WorldSBK race there – a situation he hopes to change. Fifth in the standings is Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), whose future is now secure, allowing him to focus fully on achieving third place in the standings.

IN THE TOP TEN: Finishing the year with a strong finish

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) has had an excellent second season in WorldSBK, although he has also dropped points, leaving him in a relatively lonely sixth place in the standings. A podium finish at Magny-Cours would be his first at the French circuit in WorldSBK. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) are separated by seven points, and the number 97 will be hoping to close that gap, but the Bimota rider has already finished on the podium six times at Magny-Cours, while Vierge is yet to achieve a podium finish at the classic circuit. There is then a 15-point gap between the number 22 and Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC), although the Spanish rider has been declared unfit,  is still recovering from the broken left forearm he sustained at Balaton  , and will miss the French round. Lecuona will be replaced by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who brings three years of Moto2 experience to the Japanese factory team's garage. Lecuona is just three points ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven), who in turn is only three points ahead of Axel Bassani (Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team). Both will try to overtake Lecuona, whose future is at least secure:  he will replace Bautista in 2026.  Iannone is another rider who must be declared fit to race on Thursday if he wants to ride.

REA'S FAREWELL TOUR BEGINS: It starts on one of his favorite routes

Magny-Cours holds many fond memories for Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), and he hopes to add even more in 2025,  when he begins his final four races as a full-time rider . He has already won there nine times and finished on the podium 21 times. This year, he aims to add even more successes to end his career on a high.

FUTURE UNCERTAIN: Can Aegerter secure a place for 2026?

With Stefano Manzi and Remy Gardner confirmed for next year with the GYRT GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, Dominique Aegerter finds himself without a seat after an up-and-down 2025 season. He lies 12th in the overall standings, just six points behind Bassani, and will be hoping for a strong race in France. He has only raced there once in WorldSBK, in 2023, with a best result of 6th. In four WorldSSP races, he has won twice there and always finished on the podium. Gardner must be declared fit before racing in France. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) returns to the scene of his last victory after a masterful wet-weather performance in Race 1 in 2024. He will be looking to build on his form from last year, when he finished 6th in the championship standings. A similar situation applies to Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team), who has a pole position and a podium finish at Magny-Cours but has been declared fit following his involvement in the Balaton Park pile-up. The #31 rider recently tested in Aragon. The American is three points ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), who is hoping for strong results in his first visit to Magny-Cours in WorldSBK.

HOPE TO CONTINUE THE WINNING STREAM: Vickers and Mackenzie travel to France after strong performances at Balaton Park

Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) and Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) head into the French round looking to continue their run of form after their best WorldSBK results at the last race. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and teammate Michael Rinaldi are looking to add to their points tally, while Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) and teammate Zaqhwan Zaidi are also looking to score points.

Watch the highlights from Hungary HERE , read the official program for France HERE and follow every moment from Magny-Cours with the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!