Imola World Superbike Superpole Race Results: Razgatlioglu stuns Bautista

Results from the Superpole Race, round eight of the 2023 World Superbike Championship at Imola, Italy.

16 Jul 2023

Toprak Razgatlioglu, Yamaha World Superbike Imola 2023

Like in Race 1, Andrea Locatelli made a brilliant start as he took the lead from teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Then facing pressure from Alvaro Bautista, Razgatlioglu managed to hold off the world champion into turn 18.

Extending his lead to nearly seven tenths, Locatelli was looking very comfortable at the head of the field as Bautista began pressuring Razgatlioglu once again.

On lap two Locatelli saw his lead reduced by three tenths as Razgatlioglu started to show his true pace.

Despite increasing pressure, Locatelli was doing a superb job of holding back Razgatlioglu and Bautista.

Then came a stunning double overtake from Bautista as he out-braked Razgatlioglu at the final chicane, before passing Locatelli at turn one.

Trying hard to not let the Spaniard get away, Razgatlioglu failed to pass Locatelli on the next few corners which gave Bautista the chance to extend his lead.

The 2021 world champion finally broke his teammates' defence towards the end of lap six, as Joanthan Rea was next to try his luck.

At the front, Razgatlioglu’s charge was not over as he set the fastest lap of the race in order to claw back two tenths.

Another two tenths was then taken out of Bautista’s lead as Razgatlioglu was pushing to the absolute limit. Razgatlioglu then pounced at turn eight before a mistake from Bautista gifted him a lead of half a second.

Late pressure was applied by Bautista on the final lap but Razgatlioglu managed to hold on for this third win of the season.

2023 World Superbike Imola, Italy - Superpole Race Results
Pos	Rider	Nat	Team	Time
1	Toprak Razgatlioglu	TUR	Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK	10 Laps
2	Alvaro Bautista	SPA	Aruba.It Racing Ducati	+0.244s
3	Andrea Locatelli	ITA	Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK	+1.720s
4	Jonathan Rea	GBR	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK	+1.969s
5	Michael Ruben Rinaldi	ITA	Aruba.It Racing Ducati	+3.341s
6	Axel Bassani	ITA	Motocorsa Ducati	+4.603s
7	Alex Lowes	GBR	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK	+5.219s
8	Danilo Petrucci	ITA	Barni Spark Racing Team	+7.536s
9	Scott Redding	GBR	ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team	+9.407s
10	Loris Baz	FRA	Bonovo Action BMW	+9.601s
11	Remy Gardner	AUS	GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team	+13.464s
12	Philipp Oettl	GER	GoEleven Ducati	+15.879s
13	Iker Lecuona	SPA	Team HRC WorldSBK	+16.173s
14	Dominique Aegerter	SWI	GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team	+16.337s
15	Leon Haslam	GBR	ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team	+20.127s
16	Bradley Ray	GBR	Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team	+22.585s
17	Gabriele Ruiu	ITA	Bmax Racing BWM	+23.420s
18	Lorenzo Baldassarri	ITA	GMT94 Yamaha	+23.671s
19	Xavi Vierge	SPA	Team HRC WorldSBK	+31.024s
20	Tito Rabat	SPA	Puccetti Kawasaki	+31.322s
21	Roberto Tamburini	ITA	PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing	+37.676s
22	Isaac Vinales	SPA	TPR by Vinales Racing	+38.011s
23	Oliver Konig	CZE	Orelac Racing Kawasaki	+38.359s
24	Eric Granado	BRA	PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing	+43.253s
25	Garrett Gerloff	USA	Bonovo Action BMW	DNF