Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu pulled off a late pass on long time leader Jonathan Rea to win the Tissot Superpole Race for the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship at Donington Park this afternoon (Sunday).
The Turkish rider squeezed up the inside of the Northern Irishman at Melbourne on the penultimate lap, after Rea had led the entire contest. On the first lap, it looked as if Rea's challenge would come from reigning champion Alvaro Bautista who shot past into Redgate but Rea fought back and held first position. Razgatlioglu then slipped past into second at the Old Hairpin.
Razgatliogu sat behind Rea for the next eight laps, keeping the pressure on him until launching it at hairpin and seeing off any resurgence from his rival during the start of the final lap.
The 2021 champion thus took his second win of the year, while Bautista passed Rea on the final lap at the Fogarty Esses to take second place. Rea finished third and will round out the front row for Race Two this afternoon behind pole-man Razgatlioglu and Bautista, who won from second yesterday. On his way to second place, Bautista recorded a new all-time motorcycle lap record of 1m25.896s.
Razgatlioglu's Yamaha teammate Andrea Locatelli was fourth, nearly four seconds back from the top trio. Joining him on the second row this afternoon are Danilo Petrucci on the customer Ducati and Kawasaki's Alex Lowes. Garrett Gerloff fought up to seventh with Axel Bassani behind.
In ninth, the last position that affects the Race Two grid, was Scott Redding for BMW. Redding was promoted after his teammate Tom Sykes crashed on the penultimate lap. Rounding out the top ten was Philipp Oettl.
Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, Donington Park, Superpole race results
- Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK, 10 laps
- Alvaro Bautista, Aruba.it Racing Ducati, +0.315
- Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, +0.537
- Andrea Locatelli, Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK, +4.247
- Danilo Petrucci, Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati, +5.018
- Alex Lowes, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK, +5.330
- Garett Gerloff, Bonovo Action BMW, +5.629
- Axel Bassani, Motocorsa Racing Ducati, +6.884
- Scott Redding, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, +9.047
- Philipp Oettl, Team GoEleven, +11.167
For full results, click here.