If there was one thing we were clear about from the WSBK round in Jerez, it was that a new World Champion would emerge from the Cádiz track. It was the final event and although Nicolò Bulega had mathematical options, everything was on Toprak Razgatlioglu’s side to win his second World Champion crown as it ended up happening.
SBK Jerez 2024 race 1: Bulega gives everything, but Toprak is crowned
The only option that Nicolò Bulega had to continue aspiring to the title was victory. Getting to cross the finish line first was the goal and, after that, hoping that Toprak didn’t get the necessary points.
Bulega got to work after the start and little by little he gained enough space to escape from Toprak. The Italian dominated the race from start to finish and had the pleasure of winning six seconds ahead of the Turk. But that five-point difference in their favor was not enough of an impediment for Toprak Razgatlioglu to take the championship on the first try.
classical @toprak_tr54‘s slow motion😍#SpanishWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZDcz62G5Wu
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 19, 2024
After Toprak’s serious accident in France, Bulega reduced points, but they were not enough and Toprak could score at the first opportunity. In addition to Bulega and Razgatlioglu, Andrea Locatelli achieved a well-deserved podium with the Yamaha. Iker Lecuona, fifth, was the best Spaniard in a race in which Álvaro Bautista crashed twice.
Xavi Vierge finished seventh, confirming the step ahead of Honda in the final part of the season, while Tito Rabar was just shy of the points with sixteenth position.
SBK Jerez 2024 SuperPole Race: Bulega again
Nicolò did not collapse after the championship was decided and, also, his runner-up position. On Sunday the Italian wanted to vindicate himself and boy did he do it. With nothing more at stake than his physical integrity and honor, Bulega put a Toprak who came to lead the race against the ropes, ending up beating the new champion.
On this occasion it was Alex Lowes who took the podium with the two protagonists of the race in a top5 completed by Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Locatelli. On this occasion the Spaniards could not shine at home and Álvaro Bautista was ninth as the best local representative while Tito Rabat was fifteenth. Even so, things were worse for Vierge and Lecuona who went down at the same time. The worst unemployed was Lecuona, who with a displaced fracture of his left 5th metatarsal bone was declared unfit for the last race of the season.
SBK Jerez 2024 race 2: Toprak and a red flag “steal” Bulega’s triplet
Feisty fight for P6🔥💨
Not holding back for @Petrux9 and @andreaiannone29 ⚔️💥#SpanishWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/GPVu0xBOsj
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 20, 2024
Toprak wanted to say goodbye to the year with a victory and so did Bulega. With two trains going at each other, it is normal that both were very far from the rest and that is how it happened. On this occasion, Bulega was the one who took the lead in Jerez with Toprak following him, although the Turk took the lead after three laps.
Both were gaining space and even Toprak seemed to have something more, but with seven laps to go Bulega was beginning to appear strong, preparing the final attack on the race. Unfortunately, an engine failure by Philipp Oettl with four laps remaining, when the excitement was at its highest, left the victory in the hands of Razgatliolgu with Bulega second, closing an incredible debut year.
Michael van de Mark, who has undoubtedly been greatly overshadowed at BMW with the arrival of Toprak, closed the season on the podium with Iannone, who has already been confirmed for 2025, as fourth place and Alex Lowes closing the top5.
To the loss due to Lecuona’s injury, it was necessary to add the retirements of Álvaro Bautista due to a new fall and Tito Rabat due to mechanical failure. Thus, the only Spaniard who crossed the finish line was Xavi Vierge, although this time in thirteenth position.
