UPS AND DOWNS: Returning to the top step, milestones and crashes…
The first-ever Czech Round at the Autodrom Most provided a spectacle to behold with lots of ups and a few downs across the weekend
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship headed to the Czech Republic for the first time since 2018 but at a new venue with the Autodrom Most hosting the Tissot Czech Round and it delivered action in abundance across the weekend. From stunning penultimate corner overtakes, potentially costly crashes and a rider returning to the top step in 13 races, the Czech Round did not disappoint.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) claimed a double at the Autodrom Most but, if not for a penultimate corner move in Race 1, it would have been one win and two second places. Razgatlioglu’s move meant he cut the lead in the Championship down in Race 1 and then again in the Tissot Superpole Race after securing a double, with the Turkish rider now claiming 14 podiums in 18 races.
The rider on the other end of the Turn 20 move was Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who was looked to return to the top step of the rostrum for the first time since Race 1 at Estoril, the second Round of the season. He would only need to wait another 24 hours to move to claim that victory and, like Razgatlioglu, closed the gap in the Championship.
Reigning Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had both a high and a low across the Tissot Czech Round. He reached a landmark in the Tissot Superpole Race as he claimed his 200th WorldSBK podium with third place. At the time, he was 70 clear of Troy Corser in second in the all-time list, but another third place in Race 2 means he’s now 71 clear of Corser’s 130 podiums.
In Race 1 on Saturday, he found himself behind Razgatlioglu and made a mistake at Turn 1 as he put pressure on the Turkish rider with the Ulsterman dropping down to 11th place. In the same race, as he looked to perform a damage limitation exercise, found himself crashing at Turn 20 which forced the six-time Champion out of the race. Pointless in the Czech Round after Race 1 and Razgatlioglu’s win meant the Championship lead was cut to 12 points; Rea would end the weekend only three points clear of his nearest rival while Redding cut the gap to 50 points, down from 81.
Relive all the action from the Autodrom Most and follow the rest of the 2021 campaign using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
