WorldSBK Magny-Cours Superpole Race Results: Razgatlioglu doubles up

Toprak Razgatlioglu produced a magnificent ride to follow up his maiden World Superbike Championship win in race one with an even more commanding victory in the shorter Superpole Race.

The Turk ended his long wait for a first WorldSBK success in style by snatching victory from Jonathan Rea just two corners from the flag in race one, but was expected to have his work cut out in the shorter ten lap Superpole Race as he’d once more start from 16th on the grid.

However, an aggressive opening two laps – a notable trait of his riding style – would see him climb to seventh by the end of lap one before ascending to third on lap three.

From here Razgatlioglu picked off Michael van der Mark for second on lap five with a fine out-braking manoeuvre into the Adelaide hairpin before pouncing on Rea with an identical pass shortly afterwards. 

Though unable to move away from Rea, the Turk held his nerve as the WorldSBK champion-elect attempted to return the favour into the hard-braking zone on the final lap, only to run wide and allow Razgatlioglu back through for a lead he’d retain to the flag.

A double success that puts him on the cusp of the top three in the overall standings now – having begun the weekend in sixth – he will also start race two from pole position for the first time in his career.

Jonathan Rea ekes out lead over Alvaro Bautista 

Despite missing out on the win again as Razgatlioglu became only the third two-time race winner in 2019, Rea eased out his championship lead to 104 points over Alvaro Bautista, who finished fifth. 

It means Rea can mathematically win the 2019 WorldSBK title in race two, but needs to win and hope Bautista doesn’t finish to do it in France.

van der Mark led initially off the line but faded to third position, ahead of Chaz Davies, who atoned for his race one crash with a solid charge to fourth from 11th. Bautista was fifth, the Spaniard paying the price for a slow start from 13th but could prove a greater threat from a more advantageous starting position in race two.

Alex Lowes followed in sixth place, ahead of Loris Baz, who recovered from a poor getaway to get the better of Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam late on, the trio completing the all-new front three rows for the final race.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi was tenth from Sandro Cortese and Marco Melandri, with Eugene Laverty, Leandro Mercado and Jordi Torres completing the points’ paying positions. 

French WorldSBK Superpole Race Results