Get ready for an epic cliffhanger that could redefine motorcycle racing history! The 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is hanging by a thread, with the title crown still up for grabs as we head into the final day of the season. But here's where it gets controversial—could one rider's dominant performance force us to rethink the balance of power in this high-stakes sport?
Imagine the roar of engines at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto in Andalucia, Spain, where Nicolo Bulega of the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team absolutely demolished the competition in Race 1. This young Italian sensation, often called 'Bulegas' by fans, turned his pole position into a commanding victory, beating championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team by nearly four seconds. For newcomers to the world of Superbike racing—where powerful 1000cc motorcycles battle on tracks designed for Grand Prix circuits—this wasn't just a win; it was a masterclass in speed and strategy. Bulega went undefeated on Saturday during the Pirelli Spanish Round, but 'El Turco' (Razgatlioglu's nickname, inspired by his Turkish heritage) settled for second place, which wasn't enough to clinch the title early. This keeps the championship race alive, with everything decided on Sunday's showdown.
Let's dive into the action from the very first lap, because that's when the drama really ignited. And this is the part most people miss—the subtle nuances of overtaking can make or break a race strategy. Razgatlioglu got off to a blistering start, seizing the lead into Turn 1. But Bulega, displaying incredible composure, fought back through the initial sector and snatched the top spot. Razgatlioglu slipped down the order momentarily, only to stage a comeback by passing Andrea Iannone of Team Pata GoEleven at Turn 6. By then, though, Bulega had already pulled out a two-second gap, cruising in the 1'38s lap times while Razgatlioglu lagged in the 1'39s. This marked Bulega's 18th career win in WorldSBK, a series where riders push limits on two-wheeled missiles. Meanwhile, Razgatlioglu secured his 25th straight podium finish, tying Colin Edwards' all-time record—a feat that speaks to his consistency. In championship terms, Razgatlioglu only needs three points from Sunday's races to lock in the title, adding to the tension.
Shifting gears to the battle for the podium spots, it was a ferocious four-way scrap that kept fans on the edge of their seats. As we've seen in recent events, the fight for third place is often a highlight reel of close calls and split-second decisions. Iannone took the initiative early in the 20-lap race, but he was under constant pressure from Alex Lowes of the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team and Xavi Vierge of Honda HRC right on his tail. Alvaro Bautista, the veteran from Aruba.it Racing - Ducati, was clawing his way through the pack. Lowes repeatedly tried to outbrake Iannone at Turn 12 leading into the tricky right-hand hairpin of Turn 13, but Iannone held firm. Then, on Lap 11, Bautista chose an unconventional line through Turn 13, using that to slingshot past Vierge and Lowes into Turn 1, climbing to fourth. By Lap 13, Bautista attempted to overtake Iannone at Turn 13 but overshot, executing a jaw-dropping save that allowed him to retain third momentarily—until a mistake at Turn 2 dropped him back. Undeterred, Bautista reclaimed third at Turn 6 on Lap 15 with a brilliant late brake past Iannone. This not only solidified Bautista's grip on third in the overall standings but also set a new record for six consecutive third-place finishes. Iannone became vulnerable after that, and Vierge seized the moment to pass him at Turn 13 on Lap 18. Iannone fought back when Vierge slipped wide at Turn 5 on Lap 19, then opened a gap to secure fourth—proving that resilience is key in these intense duels.
Further back, Andrea Locatelli of Pata Maxus Yamaha battled Bautista initially but settled for seventh after dropping behind at Turn 6, with comfortable buffers ahead and behind. He edged out Remy Gardner of GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team in eighth, who himself had to defend fiercely against Tarran Mackenzie of MGM BONOVO Action in the latter stages. Mackenzie took ninth, with Michael van der Mark of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team completing the top ten.
Holding onto that top-ten position was no easy feat for van der Mark, as he repelled Axel Bassani of bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, finishing just half a second ahead. Iker Lecuona of Honda HRC was twelfth, only four-tenths behind Bassani, followed by Yari Montella of Barni Spark Racing Team, Garrett Gerloff of Kawasaki WorldSBK Team, and Ryan Vickers of Motocorsa Racing in the remaining points-scoring spots.
Even wildcard entries added spice, with Bahattin Sofuoglu of Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team just three seconds shy of the final point, ending up 16th. Lukas Tulovic of Team Triple M Ducati Frankfurt was 17th, a mere five seconds from points-paying territory—a narrow miss that could fuel debates on wildcard performance. Tito Rabat of PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team placed 18th, ahead of Nicholas Spinelli of Barni Spark Racing Team and Michael Rinaldi of Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team in the top 20. Bobby Fong and Zaqhwan Zaidi of PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team were the last classified finishers.
Sadly, the race wasn't without incidents. Jonathan Rea of Pata Maxus Yamaha, who had been in the top ten, suffered a high-speed crash at Turn 4 on Lap 3, walking away unharmed but ending his day early. Alessandro Delbianco of GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team also crashed out at Turn 5.
For the full rundown, here are the top six from WorldSBK Race 1 (complete results available at https://resources.worldsbk.com/files/results/2025/JER/SBK/001/CLA/Results.pdf?version=865c1ebca9c39e76c3288d44af8896ca&_ga=2.241245250.1591317230.1760002258-1987345431.1752137082):
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +3.766s
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +9.569s
- Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) +11.221s
- Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +12.272s
- Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +12.755s
Fastest Lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati), 1’38.737s
The championship is far from over, rolling into Sunday's races starting at 09:15 Local Time (UTC+2). Catch every thrilling moment with the WorldSBK VideoPass for just €9.99—check it out at https://secure.worldsbk.com/en/subscribe?_ga=2.148438135.1591317230.1760002258-1987345431.1752137082.
Now, here's a thought to ponder: Is Bulega's early dominance a sign of a new era in Superbike racing, or will Razgatlioglu's experience prevail? Some might argue that Ducati's technological edge is tipping the scales unfairly—do you agree, or is it just smart engineering? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below; who do you think will wear the crown next?
