Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu took maximum points as WorldSBK racing action got underway at Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto on Sunday morning.
The podium reflected the championship standings as KRT’s Jonathan Rea and Aruba.it Ducati’s Scott Redding claimed second and third, with the trio all dedicating their thoughts to the late Dean Berta Viñales.
Rea took the lead on the opening lap after getting the better of the pole-sitter halfway round, the pair continuing to battle as the race unfolded with Razgatlioglu attempting a move before immediately being forced to save a turn six moment with 14 to go.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi was running strong on the edge of the podium fight until he found the limit after four laps of action, an earlier moment on the Ducati forcing him wide and sending Alex Lowes to the back of the top 10 as the Kawasaki was forced to sit up.
The dominant Yamaha’s strike was more successful with seven to go, Razgatlioglu forcing his way through at the first corner with Rea unable to hit back as the lap wound down with the Turk easing out a lead to win by just over 1.2 seconds.
A late race fight for the podium played out between Redding and top rookie by a mile, Andrea Locatelli ,with the Pata Yamaha losing out on the final lap as the Ducati finally worked its way through, the Brit holding his position to the line.
Alvaro Bautista (HRC Honda) had a strong ride to fifth, albeit over eight seconds down on Razgatlioglu.
A great welcome back to the WorldSBK paddock for Loris Baz (Team GoEleven Ducati) saw him fight hard in the early laps but use all his previous WorldSBK experience well to finish sixth, as a stand-in rider for Chaz Davies. Loris was just over ten seconds from the win.
Top BMW rider was Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in seventh place, with Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) his shadow over the line in eighth.
Second place qualifier, despite his fractured right hand, Lowes finished ninth, with Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha) tenth.
A full distance race two will take place at Jerez as scheduled later today.
