The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s Race 2 on Sunday afternoon gave us one of the best battles seen on track so far in 2026. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) and Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) locked horns for P5 as both riders continue to show a big step over the last two rounds, and across the entire second half of the race, the pair were taking no prisoners, overtaking and countering one another sector for sector.

Gerloff started in P6, a position behind Surra at lights out in Race 2, and it took him the first half of the race to do away with defiant Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) on Turn 1 to retake his grid position, pulling behind Surra. Gerloff began his attack on Surra on T1 of Lap 16, one which the rookie parried with composure as he slipped back on the inside of the Texan on the change of direction. Gerloff continued his assault, slipping down the inside with move after move, particularly on Turn 1 and Turn 20, but each time, shortly after, the #67 found a way back shortly after, or waited to do the same back to the #31 on the long start-finish straight where his Ducati excels. Lap 18 saw another Turn 1 move by the rider in green; however, this time, when Surra made his way past on the exit of the first chicane, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) followed him through, sending Gerloff down to P3. The #31 responded on Turn 1 to retake P6 on Lap 19. On Lap 20, the Italian and the American went bar to bar, but Surra held his nerve, before Gerloff pulled the trigger for the final time with a block pass on Surra heading into Turn 20, which at last Surra had no answer for and saw the American to a well-earned P5.

BACK IN THE SADDLE: “I told him he’s riding really well. It’s good to finish in the top five; this is for sure the best weekend I’ve had on the Kawasaki”

After a record high with Kawasaki of P5 in Race 2 at Balaton Park, Gerloff is raising the bar again as he closed out an emphatic Czech Round at Autodrom Most. The American placed within the top six in each race for the first time since Aragon 2024, and with a Race 1 P4 to boot, the ‘Lone Star’ can ride into Aragon 2026 with the wind at his back after landing his best MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship weekend yet with Kawasaki.

On the battle, Gerloff said: “In Race 2, I was getting so frustrated, my face was getting red, I was saying things maybe I shouldn’t have said in my helmet. I just could not stay in front of Surra. I was giving it my all, I would pass him, then he would pass me right back, then I’d pass him again, and again he would pass me back. I felt really good; He was really good at braking and accelerating out of the corner. When I’d pass, I felt like I could go, but then he’d pass right back. There were a few times where he went a little wide, and he’d come across my front and close the door. It was clean and a good race, but I kind of wish that we had worked together more, because I think that we could have gone forward, but you know, it's racing. It was a nice battle, clean and everything; I had the chance to talk with him, and I told him he’s riding really well. It’s good to finish in the top five; this is for sure the best weekend I’ve had on the Kawasaki.”

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: “Gerloff is a very fast rider, and professional in how he rides and makes passes. It was very fun”

Surra has been competitive so far in his rookie season, jumping onto the formidable Ducati Panigale V4R, yet coping well with WorldSBK’s steep electronics and riding style learning curve. After an impressive P9 in the season-opening race, he announced himself in earnest to the rest of the field at Balaton Park where he landed P8, P6 and P7; Surra confirmed his pace across the first two races, and Race 2 saw him go punch for punch with the American veteran WorldSBK rider, and while he lost out in the battle, he continues to grow round by round.

On the Race 2 battle from his perspective, Surra said: ”I’m really happy with our performance this weekend. The battle with Gerloff was very, very good. Gerloff is a very fast rider and professional in how he rides and makes passes. It was a lot of fun, especially the pass I made on Turn 4, sliding the bike, my eyes practically closed, and full gas! I’m very happy with the race and the weekend in general.”

The American and the Italian will return on Aragon on Friday, May 29^th, for their opening day at the Spanish venue! See it all with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 30% off!