The opening salvos of 2025’s final Pirelli Spanish Round have been fired, and things are shaping up for a dramatic Sunday finish at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) came out on track firing on all cylinders, setting a new track record in the Tissot Superpole session, and following it up with an emphatic Race 1 win to close the day, while his rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) he’s been made to wait until the season’s final day to clinch the title.

SATURDAY STEPS: “On Saturday we made a step with the bike, in the morning, we had an incredible lap in the Superpole”

Despite his dominant pace today, setting a new track record of 1’36.629s, ‘Bulegas’ has his back up against the wall in the Championship picture. With 37 points still on the table, Bulega will need to win the Superpole Race and hope that Razgatlioglu doesn’t finish in seventh or higher. With the #1’s podium streak stretching all the way back to Assen, it would take an uncharacteristically bad showing by Razgatlioglu on Sunday morning to not see him clinch the title.

On his shining Saturday, Bulega said: “On Saturday we made a step with the bike. In the morning, we had an incredible lap in the Superpole, and in Race 1 we did very well. I’m happy with my Saturday and we’ll see about Sunday. I woke up today feeling really good, I felt the energy and the bike was working well. Our odds for the Championship aren’t impossible; we will try until the very end. I feel good and my goal for tomorrow is to win both races tomorrow.”

FINISHING THROUGH ADVERSITY: “I still feel issues with the engine brake and the traction control, but we will see. I want to try to win the race for the title”

Razgatlioglu has been outshined at Jerez so far by his Italian rival; he hadn’t managed to top any of Friday’s sessions, and now with Saturday in the books, he’s still been held off the top spot in Andalucia. Lucky for him, his dominant form this season has set him up for success in this final round. With just one day remaining before it’s curtains on the 2025 season, and with that, his time in WorldSBK. Along with the Championship, he has one eye on the consecutive podium streak, which he tied with Colin Edwards in Race 1.

On his P2-laden Saturday, Razgatlioglu said: “We didn’t start too badly, but we had a problem in Turn 5.  Bulega and I made contact, but it was nothing, just racing. I lost some time in that corner, and after that, I was trying to brake hard in Turn 6 because I could see Iannone was with me, and I still wanted to try to catch Bulega, but I couldn’t stop the bike, and I went wide. I’ll take P2, I tried to push really hard to win the race, but it was impossible because Bulega had really good pace. I think P2 is ok, I was pushing hard across 10-12 laps, and I was just focusing on my pace. Overall, we did a good job, and now I’m looking ahead to tomorrow. I still feel issues with the engine brake and the traction control, but we will see. I want to try to win the race for the title. I know that I’ve tied Colin Edwards' podium streak, I need to break it tomorrow.”

Tune in tomorrow for the final day of the Razgatlioglu vs. Bulega rivalry in WorldSBK! Action kicks off at 11:00 (Local time UTC +2). Watch live or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now just €9.99!