Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was going in search of a second consecutive Autodrom Most hat-trick in Race 2 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, and it looked like he would achieve that as he led on the final lap. However, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) had other ideas as he closed down his title rival before claiming victory on the run to the line as the Motul Czech Round came to an end for the WorldSBK field in unbelievable fashion as the top two went head-to-head and left nothing on the table.

SUPERPOLE RACE: early battle as the #1 claims victory

In Saturday morning’s Tissot Superpole Race, Bulega got the holeshot as lights went out, with Razgatlioglu initially dropping to P3 behind Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). He soon moved ahead of ‘Petrux’ and chased after Bulega, although the #11 was able to hold on for a few laps. However, Razgatlioglu got ahead at Turn 13 on Lap 3, before Bulega responded at Turn 1 on the following lap. The reigning Champion then pulled off the same move on Lap 5 to claim the lead, before going on to take his 62^nd victory in WorldSBK and his tenth at Most; the first circuit he’s won ten times at, and only the third rider to win 10 or more times at one venue after Carl Fogarty and Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha).

RACE 2 BATTLE: an instant classic at Most

In Race 2, Bulega again got the holeshot and held the lead throughout the first half of the race, with Razgatlioglu always close to the back of Bulega’s Panigale V4 R but not close enough to get ahead. That changed on Lap 12 as Razgatlioglu caught the Championship leader by surprise by diving up the inside of Turn 17 on Lap 12, but Bulega responded instantly at Turn 1 on the next lap. On Lap 14, Bulega once again used an unconventional overtaking spot as he dived up the inside of Turn 2 to re-take P1. It looked like the BMW rider would hold on for victory, but Bulega put in an impressive final couple of laps to close the gap, getting alongside the BMW rider at Turn 20 before beating him on the run to the line by just 0.027s.

RAZGATLIIOGLU’S VIEW OF THE FIGHT: “It was bad luck… I tried a different strategy!”

Explaining his view of their epic battle, Razgatlioglu stated: “For me, it was bad luck, because I was pushing so hard on every lap. I put in a really big effort. On the last lap, at the last corner, I don’t understand why, but on the straight, the bike cut twice. I lost P1. I’m really angry about this. Normally, the Ducati always passed me after the chequered flag. Maybe it was fuel or electronics, but I’m just waiting for an answer from the team. This is not good because every lap, I was pushing, and just on the last lap and straight, I lost P1. I’m not happy.

“Normally, the Ducati is very strong at the last corner and on the straight. It wasn’t possible to attack at Turn 1. I tried a different strategy. At the start of the race, I just followed Nicolo and rode normally, looking after the rear tyre. After then, I felt I was ready to ride alone, and I passed him. In the race, normally I could keep a strong pace but at the end of the race, I started spinning. I lost a lot on the straight because the Ducati was so strong. Every lap, the gap got closer. On the last lap, I don’t understand this technical problem, and I lost P1. We had a good battle at the beginning of the race.”

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