Toprak Razgatlioglu executed a brilliant performance to secure WorldSBK Superpole victory at Portimao.
Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega once again completed an impressive battle for the win in another photo finish.
Bulega launched best off the line once again to lead into Turn 1 over pole sitter Razgatlioglu.
Danilo Petrucci slotted his Barni Spark Ducati into second as Alvaro Bautista and Sam Lowes were chasing down yesterday’s podium finisher Andrea Locatelli for fourth.
Razgatlioglu’s BMW had the slipstream down the straight to dispatch Petrucci at Turn 1 on Lap 2, before gaining several tenths on the championship leader ahead.
Bautista rose further by overtaking former MotoGP rider Lowes to claim fifth, having started in ninth.
The Spaniard made an interesting choice to select the harder compound of tyre compared to his rivals, indicating he could be in the running for a podium finish later in the race.
Razgatlioglu continued to trail behind Bulega with similar tactics imposed to his successful Race 1 winning antics, but no first overtake attempt arrived until Lap 4.
The Turkish rider completed a block pass at Turn 3 to snatch the lead, but both riders once again displayed total dominance over the rest of the field.
Bautista completed a move on Locatelli down the straight with ease considering the speed deficit between the V4 Panigale and the M1, before claiming the final podium spot at the same corner on Lap 9.
As each lap went by, Razgatlioglu’s Bavarian machine was under constant pressure from Bulega but maintained enough of a gap to lead at Turn 1 which was the Ducatis strongest area on the track.
The dramatic last Lap saw Razgatlioglu make two slight blunders on exits at Turn 7 and Turn 15, but Bulega couldn’t quite position his Panigale to cross the line ahead.
Following the conclusion of the Superpole, Razgatlioglu reduced the deficit between himself and Bulega to 34 points.
Bulega narrowly missed out on a race win by only a bike length for a second time this weekend, with Race 2 to start later in the day.
Bautista claimed third to seal a much-needed podium following his retirement in Race 1, proving his tyre strategy paid off.
Petrucci completed fourth place for Barni Spark to finish as the lead independent rider once again.
Locatelli and Lowes followed suit to earn fifth and sixth place for Yamaha and the MarcVDS Ducati.
Michael van der Mark fended off the Honda HRC rider pairing of Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona, with all three riders crossing the line within 0.7 seconds of each other.
Remy Gardner produced tenth place once again on his Yamaha after battling with Bimotas Axel Bassani for the vast majority of the 10-lapper.
Andrea Iannone and Alex Lowes finished a second adrift but the latter will be happy with his efforts considering the British rider started from the back of the grid.
Dominique Aegerter completed his race in 14th, ahead of Bonovo Racing’s Scott Redding and Kawasaki’s Garrett Gerloff.
Yari Montella claimed 17th despite showing promise earlier in the weekend. He held a multi-second advantage over Tito Rabat, Ryan Vickers and Jason O’Halloran, who occupied the next three classification spots.
Zaqhwan Zaidi finished last, 47s off the pace after ten laps, as the 29-year-old continued his tough start to WorldSBK.
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