After topping the table in Superpole Toprak Razgatlioglu won Race 1 adding his name to the mix of winners in 2024. Razgatlioglu started from the front and didn’t look back. Prior to the race Toprak said, “I think it will not be an easy race weekend for me because we need further improve tire life but the test was also very positive, we also worked on race pace and that was very good.
We are still not at really 100 per cent but I am learning the bike every day and we are improving. My general feeling is not bad. This race weekend will be very important for me. I try to make it to the podium and my big target is to win the race because I never won at Catalunya before. I hope we will win this weekend, I will try to do my best.” Little did he know his efforts would end up seeing him to the top in Superpole and the winner in race one.
Razgatlioglu Reflect After the Race
After the race Razgatlioglu’s tone changed, “I am really happy. Thanks to my team, they did an unbelievable job with really hard work and finally we are winning,” he said. “This victory has special importance for me as I never won here on this circuit before. It has been my dream and finally I have a victory in Catalunya. This is an unbelievable moment because this race was really hard. If we win here, I think fighting will be easier on other race tracks. After Bulega passed me, I just followed him but after two laps I said, okay, I am pushing a little bit too hard for the rear tire. The podium is enough for me because I know that on this track, the rear tires have a big drop on the last five laps.
Then on the last five, six laps I saw that Bulega started to drop and I pushed hard, especially on the brakes. At the first round of the season I felt a lot of pressure as I was my first weekend with BMW but here that was not the case anymore but as Markus Flasch is here, we wanted to achieve something for him. To get pole position and win the race made it an unbelievable day. We have two more races tomorrow and now we will focus on those.”
The Ducati Front Runners Settle for 2nd and 3rd
Nicolo Bulega beat out his teammate and last years champion. The pair finished P2 and P3 respectively. Alvaro Bautista finally looked his normal self on track today after struggling to get back to form after fighting a pre season injury. One thing that has become clear. Alvaro Bautista will not be running away as the sole championship contented this year. While still early its clear that there are multiple contenders for the title this year. The most important is Bulega who as a rookie has outperformed the reiging champion thus far in 2024.
Sam Lowes and Jonathan Rea did not finish the race.
Full Race 1 Result are Below