Toprak Razgatlioglu surged to the top of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship order to claim pole position in a closely fought out Tissot Superpole session at Donington Park this morning (Saturday).
The Turkish superstar lapped the East Midlands venue’s Grand Prix layout in 1m24.827s, the fastest time of the weekend so far, to secure a start from the front in the first of the weekend’s races later today.
Morning pace setter Alex Lowes was set an early benchmark in the 15-minute session, before championship leader Nicolo Bulega upped the ante with the first time of the weekend faster than 1m25s. Alex Lowes was also able to work his way beneath that barrier, albeit marginally behind Bulega, but Razgatlioglu managed to go faster still to take first.
The reigning champion ended up just over a tenth ahead of Bulega, with Lowes mere hundredths further back in third.
Behind the leading trio, Jonathan Rea produced his best result of the weekend so far to take fourth, with Sam Lowes in fifth to make it three Brits in the top-five. Andrea Locatelli was sixth quickest ahead of the next of the homegrown heroes, Ryan Vickers in seventh. Yari Montella, Danilo Petrucci and Alvaro Bautista rounded out the top-10.
The headline stars will return to the track at 3pm for their first race of the weekend.
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Tissot Superpole
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), 1m24.827s
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati), +0.119s
- Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), +0.147s
- Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), +0.428s
- Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), +0.520s
- Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), +0.705s
- Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing), +0.706s
- Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), +0.735s
- Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), +0.747s
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati), +0.761s
Advance ticket sales for this weekend’s event are now closed, however entry will be available on the gate. Click here for more information.