WorldSBK Portimao: Razgatlioglu tops Superpole sprint

Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu claimed his second WorldSBK victory of the Portimao weekend after a sprint race scrap on the Algarve.

Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista kept the reigning champion honest throughout Sunday morning’s Superpole race as the pair crossed the line just a tenth apart with KRT’s Jonathan Rea completing the podium once again.

The final day in Europe fired up on the Algarve as Rea launched from pole for the second time this weekend, Kawasaki teammate Alex Lowes in third with Razgatlioglu sandwiched between the pair to complete the front row.

Lights out for the ten lap dash and it was Razgatlioglu who claimed the holeshot as Bautista bettered Lowes for third. Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli running fifth from Ducati’s Michael Rinaldi as Scott Redding advanced to seventh, the first of the front runners opting for the SCX rear Pirelli - alongside the fellow BMW of Loris Baz. Motocorsa’s Axel Bassani demoted the Brit as the next lap began, Baz capitalising as Redding dropped to ninth while Garrett Gerloff attempted a look on the GRT Yamaha from tenth shortly after.

Out front and Bautista was up to second as the Kawasaki’s regrouped in third and fourth, teammate Rinaldi through on Locatelli as the fight for best Italian played out with Bassani narrowly behind to complete the trio.

Razgatlioglu attempted to pull free with successive fastest lap records as Bautista fought back in sector two, the top four covered by just over a second as Rea reeled in the series leader with Lowes dropping back slightly on his teammate.

Bautista was through to the lead as lap five unfolded, Razgatlioglu immediately retaining control as once again the fight down the straight saw them inseparable next time around. Rea enjoying the