The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship saw a sensational showdown at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia. The all-new track gave a title battle to remember, with iconic duels from Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in 2021. Part 1 of their top ten battles in 2021 is here, this is Part 2.

5.) San Juan Race 2: a tango to remember

The whole opening few laps of the final San Juan encounter was crazy. Whilst Razgatlioglu and Rea were in the mix, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) were in the fight too. Razgatlioglu led initially before Rea swept back through at Turn 8 as Toprak ran wide; the Turk retaliated at Turn 10 and they’d keep on passing and repassing for the first half of the race. In the end, Rea put a move on Toprak on Lap 16 at Turn 1 to take second, whilst Redding won.

4.) Catalunya Superpole Race: unthinkable opening lap fight

After a Red Flag in the first running, the Tissot Superpole Race was now just five laps and it was the first lap of dreams for fans. Straight from the line, Rea and Razgatlioglu collided, allowing Michael Ruben Rinaldi through to lead. However, both recovered and by Turn 3, Razgatlioglu led Rea. Rea tried to pass at Turn 4 but Toprak held on and the two went side-by-side until Turn 9, before Toprak dropped back. He got back to second and despite a late race charge, settled for second behind Rea.

3.) Portimao Race 1: a firecracker in the Algarve

Portimao’s Race 1 was epic, some of the best racing all year. Razgatlioglu got the holeshot but ran wide, allowing Rea back through. However, Toprak fought back at Turn 5, before a lap later at Turn 11, Rea pounced. Somehow, Razgatlioglu stayed on Rea’s outside as they dropped down to Turn 12, before Rea passed again at Turn 13, running wide with Toprak going back under him and colliding with Rea. The battle went until Rea crashed at Turn 15 from the lead, whilst Toprak went on to win.

2. Mandalika Race 1: all on the line for the title

After a 20-or-so-hour delay due to Saturday rain, two full races on Sunday would decide who would become Champion in WorldSBK in 2021. More rain just moments before the start of the race saw tension mount and Razgatlioglu nearly crashed on the Warm-Up Lap. After battling his way through to second by the end of Lap 2, Toprak was leading going into Turn 1 on Lap 3, passing title rival Rea. Both duked it out for the remainder of the race, with opposition from Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). After Toprak made a huge mistake at Turn 15 in the middle of the race, Rea got the advantage and won the battle for the win, whilst Toprak took the title by fighting back to second.

1.) Magny-Cours Superpole Race: on-track fighting, off-track drama

The Tissot Superpole Race could be argued as one of the best races of the season, as Toprak and Jonathan slogged it out in a bruising heavyweight scrap for Magny-Cours supremacy. Rea made a bold move at Turn 11, whilst Razgatlioglu was forced to stand the bike up, but pounced at Turn 15. Despite Rea having a look back into the final chicane, Toprak took the flag, but it was all to change. Kawasaki protested the result after Toprak went on the green on the last lap and with this being shown clearly, Razgatlioglu was demoted whilst Rea took victory. This led to harsh words from Pata Yamaha principal Paul Denning, who said: “If this is the how Kawasaki want to play, then maybe the sporting atmosphere will change…”

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