Toprak Razgatlioglu wins Superpole Race, Nicolò Bulega retires

Sunday’s Pirelli Netherlands Round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship opens with the Tissot Superpole Race that is staged on the still wet track after rain fell overnight. At the TT Circuit Assen Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) takes his first win in the wet while Championship leader Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is forced to retire due to a technical problem. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) took advantage of this, giving himself his first WorldSBK podium on the very track where in 2014 his twin brother Alex had scored his first podium. Third place for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), in his 112th WorldSBK podium and 12th at Assen.

Bulega started from the second box behind Sam Lowes who was overtaken by the Emilian, who in turn was overtaken by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) on the inside. Razgatlioglu stretched and went on to win ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), who took advantage of Bulega’s retirement to go for his first WorldSBK podium ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) finished fourth by two tenths over home rider Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Great comeback for Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing), who started 16th and finished sixth.

Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) finished seventh ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team), now the best Honda rider for the first time this season. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) completes the top ten: starting 21st, it is the best result for him so far in WorldSBK.