2025 WorldSBK Round at Estoril Recapped
The 2025 WorldSBK round at Estoril was a weekend to remember and worth talking about. So, we’ll be talking about how each race unfolded, and what it means for the title fight, the season-long clash between Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Nicolò Bulega. The heart-stopping action in Portugal recapped!
The Championship Battle
The EICMA Estoril round was another dramatic chapter in the season-long duel between Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (ROKiT BMW) and Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Ducati). By the time the paddock packed up for Jerez, Razgatlıoğlu had taken two race wins across the weekend while Bulega delivered a late, statement Race 2 victory that ensured the championship would be decided at the season finale.But Saturday’s WorldSBK race went south very quickly because of a multi-bike Turn 1 crash, which brought out a red flag and forced the race’s restart.
When the green finally fell again, Razgatlıoğlu would use all his skill and grit for a classic fightback. After dropping to mid-pack on lap one, he methodically carved his way forward, picked off rivals with ease through the twisty Estoril infield, and ultimately outpaced Bulega to take the win (Bautista rounded out the podium). The result gave the Turk a valid points boost and was an excellent show of his determination and racecraft in traffic.
The Super Short Superpole Race at Estoril
The short Superpole Race run for sprint points on Saturday also went Razgatlıoğlu’s way. His weekend at this point couldn’t have gone any better. Adding crucial points to the already tight and intense title fight. Across the three sprint/feature formats this weekend, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Ducati) proved unerringly consistent, slotting onto all three podiums and claiming third in the championship standings as a byproduct of his skill and consistency.
Sunday’s Race 2, however, totally flipped the script. Bulega put on a commanding performance. The Ducati rider ran a relentless pace down the long Estoril straight and through the technical sections, ultimately taking a clear victory over Razgatlıoğlu by 4.868 seconds. Toprak, who had fought hard, admitted afterward that in his effort to close the gap, he overcooked his weekend. He pushed so hard trying to catch Bulega that his rear tire degraded, and he had to manage a falling grip level in the closing laps.
The Championship Aftermath
That pair-for-pair win meant the championship pendulum swung was barely swung at all. The official standings after Round 11 show Razgatlıoğlu leading with 580 points to Bulega’s 541 a 39 point advantage that hands Toprak a sizeable cushion going into the finale at Jerez yet still leaves the door open for Bulega mathematically speaking. WorldSBK framed Estoril as “title fight rolls on.” The duel will be settled in Spain next weekend.
Moving on to Jerez
What to watch in Jerez: Razgatlıoğlu’s ability to manage tires and starts (he was vulnerable on the launch in Race-2) versus Bulega’s raw Ducati top end and late race speed; Bautista’s steady podium form that can influence manufacturer/team points; and how tire strategies and Superpole scoring will shape the sprint/feature calculus. Spanish outlets note that Toprak needs a relatively modest points haul at Jerez to clinch the gap, now making a Saturday coronation unlikely, but a title still very much within reach for the BMW man.
Bottom line: Estoril delivered the weekend both riders expected, a split of wins and more drama, and it set up a winner takes all (or nearly so) finale at Jerez: Toprak arrives with the initiative and margin; Bulega arrives with momentum and a Ducati that can match pace. The championship is alive, tense, and poised for a final, high-stakes weekend. Thanks a bunch for reading!
