Full race Portugal SBK Race 1 2024
SBK Portugal full race 1 2024
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00That opportunity to use the harder tire
00:02So riders making their way through the warm-up lap the roar of the bikes as they head towards turn one
00:08And there might be a little bit of a voyage of discovery particularly on the opening lap
00:11We did have reports that there were still a few damp patches at very least at turn one in particular
00:17Yeah, you're gonna see some riders go pretty hard on this warm-up lap just to be able to get an understanding of what's out there
00:22And see if they make their way up the hill now at turn three
00:26This is one of the pinch points on that opening lap and we've seen plenty of action into there
00:30This track is a real tricky one a technical racetrack
00:33It's a very old-school racetrack where it's built into the contours of the land and that means that where we are at now
00:37Down in towards turn six is a lot lower than the pit lane and that it really is one of the places that
00:44Surprises you with just how steep some of the climbs are around here
00:47So there's some downhill entries into corners and then there's some big uphill climbs up towards the chicane in the final corners
00:52Alvaro Bautista once again finds himself on the fourth row of the grid and frankly familiar territory
00:5811th in Barcelona and Donington 17th in Manicou 13th in Cremona
01:02Superpole under performance really has wrecked his
01:052024 campaign but he's been on great form of like four podiums in the last six races two wins
01:10The only problem is that both of them were from the front row of the grid
01:13This is going to be a tougher task for Bautista
01:14Yeah, well, it's gonna be tough for Alvaro but on that fourth row of the grid
01:18He needs to come through if he wants to win a world championship again
01:20He has to make sure that he'll make that progress on that one
01:23Alvaro knows his chance of winning the championship are very much dependent on top rack having a lot of misfortune
01:29But he's focused on trying to make sure he's able to win race
01:32You rather feel like top rack's done his bit for misfortune for this season
01:36Don't you you never quite know what's around the corner?
01:38But 39 points is what he's defending against Niccolo Bolliger 81 points back is Alvaro Bautista
01:44And the key for Bolliger is to get up onto a podium at every race be as close to top rack as possible and wait
01:49And hope that more misfortune befalls the championship leader. Yeah, and that's all you can really do if you're a little get this stage
01:54But we'll have to wait and see how he fares in this one in the middle of the second row of the grid
01:58He's had limited running here on a superbike in the dry and it's going to tough for him during the course of this
02:0221 lap race and that's without what might still come watch for the skies throughout the 21 lap distance here in Estoril
02:12Estoril is back on the calendar race one of the 2024 Estoril round
02:17Flying start from top rack Raskatlioglu decent jump from the middle row of the grid from Andrea Locatelli as well
02:22He moves his team partner Jonathan Ray out of the way Niccolo Bolliger bundling through on the inside line as well
02:27I've been to fourth position Bautista's made a great start to think that's sixth place for him already
02:31Raskatlioglu relegated now behind Niccolo Bolliger and that of course is key in the championship
02:36Top rack seemed to make a good enough jump but lost positions in the early running
02:39It's Petrucci who's hit the front Locatelli going hard Bolliger now losing that third position as Raskatlioglu begins to recover
02:45Jonathan Ray in fifth place up ahead of Alvaro Bautista flying start from him to climb to six top racks out there and that harder
02:51Rear tire, maybe just in these initial stages of the race
02:54It's gonna leave him a little bit vulnerable in that first sector
02:56But he already looks ready to pounce on Locatelli to move himself up into P2
03:00So top racks found his form and found his feet great to see Jonathan Ray attacking in the early stages of this race as well
03:05As Raskatlioglu runs a little bit wide Jonathan Ray barges through on Niccolo Bolliger and up into fourth position
03:11So it's Petrucci who leads Locatelli in second Raskatlioglu in third Ray in fourth
03:15And then the two Aruba.IT Ducatis are now in fifth and sixth position
03:19Yeah, we heard from Baptiste on the grid
03:20No team award as Ducati and he's gonna just be thinking about trying to make a move on his team
03:24Alex Lowe is attacking him into the Ducati
03:26Jonathan Ray through on top rack Raskatlioglu into the hook as well his favorite corner on this circuit where he made his move against
03:31Alvaro Bautista for the race to win a year ago right up into the podium places
03:35This is a great start to the race as far as Yamaha are concerned with Locatelli
03:39Also up in the top three old sparring partners Ray versus Raskatlioglu for third place here
03:44That's zero tire might be just the difference right now for Raskatlioglu
03:47But he's gonna get stronger as the race goes on Locatelli's got the run off the final turn on Danilo Petrucci
03:52But this is the problem for the Yamaha. They generally haven't had the pace in a straight line the Ducati
03:56We certainly know does Raskatlioglu will make the pass on Ray Locatelli though has got through well on Danilo Petrucci to hit the front
04:02So that's a really good ride from Andrea Locatelli who leads on lap two
04:05Yeah from the second row the grid lock able to take the race lead
04:08He knows that opportunities to lead race have been doing far between on the Yamaha this season
04:12So that's why he's making that attack there and then top rack runs in a little bit hot
04:16Jonathan Ray gets very close and they almost touch if not do touch at Jonathan Ray with the cut back on Raskatlioglu
04:21But couldn't quite get alongside
04:23Niccolo Bulligan with watching brief for the moments in fifth position
04:26Early laps of races as usual Alvaro Bautista struggles to go with the podium pace and he's now dropped half a second back in
04:32Sixth position. Yeah, Bulligan. I just stole a big moment for Jonathan Ray
04:36He is gonna manage to get it stopped, but he's gone very very deep outside of track limits
04:40They're all together just recovers across the path of Niccolo Bulligan
04:43That's allowed the top three though to escape away across the bows
04:45They are booted as well to make sure he's able to hold on to that fourth position
04:48but for Jonathan you can see on the run in towards turn six big endo on the way and he's pushing as hard as he
04:53Can because he knows a little bit like Locatelli out in front
04:56This could be one of those rare opportunities and he won't be enjoying seeing his teammate leading this race either while he sits in a fourth
05:02position outside of those podium places
05:04Of course very little to choose between our leaders and the Kawasaki starting to come back into this race as well
05:09Alex Lowe's in seventh and Axel Bassani in eighth only 1.6 seconds covering that entire group all the way down to
05:16P8 as Razgatlioglu gathers his forces for an attack on Danilo Petrucci
05:20That's a sign of frustration from Remy Gardner who's come to grief
05:23But now it's all about Razgatlioglu on the start finish straight towards turn one on lap number three
05:28Attacking Danilo Petrucci. Petrucci breaks as late as he can. You've got to against Razgatlioglu
05:33He's fortunate not to go off the back of Andrea Locatelli though
05:36Toprak will have the run now coming off turn one
05:38But there's nothing to do with it through here and set Danilo Petrucci for the moment successfully
05:42Defends as Jonathan Rea runs Niccolo Bolliger out wide and Bolliger's off and in the gravel trap altogether on lap number three
05:49Bolliger's not gonna be happy about that when he was able to make the move down straight in towards turn one and Jonathan just wasn't
05:54Going to cede the position. He put his bike on that inside line and Rea's got nothing to lose
05:58Bolliger's the rider with everything to lose. So for Jonathan, he's just making sure that he's put himself into that spot
06:02Toprak Razgatlioglu still attacking Danilo Petrucci had a go in towards turn one, but wasn't close enough this time into turn six
06:09He is close enough as long as he can get it stopped Petrucci knows the move is coming
06:12But there's no opportunity for him to slot back up the inside
06:15So Razgatlioglu making his steady progress and climbs once again up into second position
06:20Yeah
06:21Good move by Razgatlioglu. Luckily he might have gone in a little bit hard into turn six
06:25But Petrucci on that same trajectory as well and Toprak able to make the move
06:28He's got about a half a second to make up on Locatelli
06:30But he's taken advantage of the fact that Bolliger is ralligated down to P8 now as well
06:34So Locatelli leads his former teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu behind him Petrucci in third, Rea in fourth and then Alvaro Bautista
06:42Who's gained a position of course after Niccolo Bolliger was run wide and off the circuit
06:46So Bautista fending off Alex Lowe's whilst going after Jonathan Rea
06:50Word saying for Bolliger as well, obviously
06:52You know his first time racing here on a superbike last time he raced here was only in second round in the Super Sport World
06:57Championship a couple years ago. So for him, he doesn't have the experience around here as well
07:01Every lap he's gonna learn something. Razgatlioglu at the start of lap four
07:05Menacing on the tail of Andrea Locatelli and that's where the biggest deficit will be for the Yamaha as this race goes on
07:10Bach is strong in the brakes though into turn one. Toprak doesn't have that stiffer front tire as well that he usually likes
07:15So for Locatelli he's able to break deep into P1. Bautista up ahead of Jonathan Rea
07:21This is the incident or the coming together or the near miss however you want to look at it between Rea and Bolliger
07:27Yeah, if you're a Rea you're seeing this chance to come through if you're a Bolliger
07:29You're thinking you're out in front and six and one half dozen to the other. It's a typical racing incident through that corner
07:34Yes
07:35And as I say Alvaro Bautista now up into fourth position ahead of Jonathan Rea anyway
07:39Who's dropped down into fifth place and will now come up against his own
07:43former teammate Alex Lowe's for that fifth position
07:46Razgatlioglu right on the tail now of
07:48Andrea Locatelli as they make their way through towards that turn seven
07:52Razgatlioglu looks visibly faster on the bike moving around a lot under Andrea Locatelli at this stage of the race
07:57It's just gonna come more and more to top rack as that zero tire the harder rear tire comes into its own
08:02We've got right about 30 degrees track temperature
08:04So not bad for the softer tire
08:06But for Razgatlioglu just opting for the safer choice the zero just because you will have a lot more spin around here
08:11Just because there isn't the rubber down good opportunity for Bautista as well
08:14He wants Locatelli to hold back Razgatlioglu until he's got clear of Petrucci and can really take the fight to top rack
08:20Bautista's only one second behind Razgatlioglu at this stage lap number four
08:24We know the second half of races is when Bautista starts to find his speed
08:27Will it be at the start of lap five for Razgatlioglu to get through and lead against his former teammates Andrea Locatelli?
08:33Breezes through midway down the straight let alone into the braking zone
08:36He's already across the path of Locatelli and through for the lead Alvaro Bautista
08:40Meanwhile will be hung up to dry by Danilo Petrucci clever lap from Bautista
08:44He knew that Petrucci would run straight across his path slotted back up the inside perfect move that from Bautista
08:49He knows from experience what you've got to do against Danilo Petrucci
08:52Yeah, you know that Petrucci is gonna answer back to you and for Bautista
08:55He'll pick his way through turn one set the move up through the kink then down in towards turn two good riding for Bautista
09:01This early in the race for Alvaro to be up in P3 means he's your favorite for this race really good sign for Bautista
09:07Razgatlioglu though at the front of the field where he can begin to control proceedings and now we'll see what his pace is really like
09:13Let's see what Nicola Bulloga does here against Jonathan Rea as well. He got doffed up by Rea a couple of laps ago
09:19We'll see if he tries to return the favor also got a race on for fourth position because Petrucci has no pace at this
09:24Stage and Alex Lowe's coming back into proceedings after qualifying probably a little bit out of position following his superposed
09:30Phil has made his way through from that ninth and up into fifth place
09:34So an opportunity for some more places grabbed here by Alex Lowe's. Petrucci's already dropped back Lowe's
09:39Racing against Jonathan Rea who recovers that P5
09:42And you can see what happened there for a little slide
09:44He caught Petrucci too much through this action before and wasn't in a position to make a move
09:48And then you're very vulnerable to the momentum of Rea coming through good to be able to see Jonathan up there though on that number
09:5365 machine up inside the top five. Loves that corner doesn't he turn nine?
09:56He's made plenty of moves there at our three previous visits to Estoril in the modern era
10:01Just loves this track Johnny and it's good to be able to see from that superpole performance
10:04Put himself in the front row of the grid. We know he's got good race pace and consistency. Here comes Bulloga up against Alex Lowe's
10:10He might get Jonathan Rea as well. They go three abreast in towards turn number one Lowe's moves across the path of Rea
10:15He may go a little bit deep though here into turn one. Bulloga will have the momentum coming off the bed
10:19Jonathan Rea still in the mix as well and they're closing down Dan Lowe Petrucci as well for fourth position
10:24Good stuff from the three riders
10:25They're all trying different ways to be able to make their moves there and for Bulloga
10:29He needs to make sure he's able to come through. He knows that his teammates up there in the podium spots
10:33He knows Toprak's leading the race and he knows that as it stands right now
10:36He's falling a big margin behind Rascally Ogden in the championship standings. That start finish straight is just a little bit too long
10:41isn't it for Jonathan Rea and you could see the other two riders pull alongside him the Kawasaki and the Ducati moment for Petrucci and
10:48Rea for the moment is held at bay
10:50But the more this race goes on the more vulnerable Dan Lowe Petrucci is looking here in fourth position
10:54And he is holding up Jonathan Rea now on lap number six
10:57Yeah
10:57Petrucci is another one of those riders here for the first time on a superbike and trying to figure it out after so little running
11:03And it's really difficult. That's where the experience really does help and
11:07No real surprise to see that of those leading riders most of them have been here quite a few times in the past
11:11Here we go in towards 10.9
11:13Another move from Jonathan Rea and another masterclass from the experienced hand the six-time world champion is up into fourth position
11:20He needs to build a gap to Dan Lowe Petrucci as quickly as possible because Bulloga and Lowe's in particular will still be coming for him
11:26Yeah, Bulloga's gonna set himself up through this last corner up against Petrucci
11:29But we know into turn one Petrucci
11:31Will try and leave it as late in the brakes as he can and try and force the other rider to make the move
11:35But Bulloga he's supposed to be able to use that slipstream down the long straight doesn't even need it
11:39Does he Niccolo Bulloga the slipstream?
11:41Said he ducked straight to the inside against Dan Lowe Petrucci now watch the pair of them close in on Jonathan Rea in towards the
11:47Braking zone for turn one Bulloga
11:48No, love lost between the two of them there as he forces his way through Jonathan Rea will try to recover in towards turn two
11:54But this time is not close enough and Bulloga finally is released at the front of this secondary group into P4
12:00meanwhile
12:02Alvaro Bautista is up ahead of Andrea Locatelli for second position
12:06So it's Razgatlioglu versus Bautista now at the head of the field with six tenths of a second separating the two of them
12:11Yeah, we're just at one third distance
12:12So Bautista from that fourth row of the grid has been able to give himself the best chance to win this race and you can see
12:17The move into turn one on Locatelli. He's not using the top speed of the bike there
12:20He's just able to use the fact that his bike's a little bit more comfortable out there than Locatelli's
12:25So your positions on lap seven Razgatlioglu leads Bautista now by seven tenths of a second Andrea Locatelli
12:31Directly behind in third place has got a gap of one and a half seconds to Niccolo Bulloga
12:35But Bulloga's already made up two tenths of a second just in the first two sectors of this lap seven
12:39That is Axel Bassani. A shame for Bassani because he was running up inside the top ten positions. We'll see what happened to him here
12:45Just gonna run out of road and it's very strange to have that front end crash
12:49That's the crash we've been seeing a lot in the wet condition. So maybe there's a
12:53Petrucci as well. Danilo Petrucci who was having a tough time of things having been relegated down from fourth position
13:00But he's having an even tougher time now having come off on lap number seven
13:04Yeah, it looks like that's down to turn seven as well the downhill right-hander there just before you come up towards the chicane
13:09obviously, we've seen Petrucci struggling in recent laps just to find some pace and
13:13That's the end of his day and the probably the biggest penalty for him as well
13:17If that's gonna hurt him tomorrow as much as anything else
13:19Yeah
13:20Four round run of consecutive scoring comes to an end for Danilo Petrucci and an opportunity now for Alex Lowe's
13:26In their scrap for fourth position in the series standing opportunity for Honda as well
13:30We can see that Iker Lackowna there in the number seven machine is right there with Alex Lowe's
13:34They've been in great form lately nine races in a row
13:36We've been both Hondas inside the top ten positions. Javi Vieira is up there in ninth in front of Garry Gerlach as well
13:42So the Hondas are strong again here this weekend and a word for Andrea Locatelli as well doing a great job sticking with Bautista here
13:48Wonder whether Bautista might have made a mistake earlier on in this lap because he was starting to close on Razgatlioglu
13:54Evenly matched with new personal bests on lap seven and
13:57Suddenly Bautista's lost four tenths of a second all in one sector behind that the booted a quarter of a second faster than the race
14:03Leader on this lap as well
14:04So as we've seen so many times this season
14:05Booga gets himself bullied on those first few laps and then finds his pace starts to make his progress
14:10But he's got three seconds two and a half seconds to make up on our race leader top right you fast this first sector as well
14:16From Niccolo Bolliger gap was 1.2 seconds to Locatelli. It's now nine tenths of a second in fourth position
14:22Jonathan Reyes second further back in
14:24P5 and he's gonna have company very shortly from Ika Lekuona who I can tell you has just got through on Alex Lowe's
14:30This is the spill for Danilo Petrucci from the onboard camera
14:32Yeah, and the front just goes out from underneath Petrucci there from where he was in the corner
14:37Maybe just as you're starting to tap on the gas
14:39But for Petrucci he's pushing and riding over that limit to be able to try and go with those riders at that stage
14:46And here goes Ika Lekuona versus Jonathan Reyes in towards at lap number nine Lekuona ducks out to the inside
14:52He's already passed Alex Lowe's earlier on on that previous lap
14:56He's through on Reyes and Reyes just doesn't have the tools to answer immediately back on the Yamaha
15:00He is going to use the strengths though coming off the first bend to pull alongside the Honda and for the moment at least recovers
15:06The position but Lekuona is not going to see this and Reyes just closes the door
15:10You're gonna have to wait a little bit longer young man
15:12If you want to come through for fifth position Lekuona will surely get the job done
15:16But Jonathan Reyes making it hard work for him
15:19And this is the determination you see from Jonathan Reyes whenever he's in a decent scoring position
15:24Frankly whenever he's on the track
15:25Jonathan Reyes fighting tooth and nail here for fifth place light at the end of the tunnel for Alex Lowe's as well
15:30They're going to come into turn six here
15:32Reyes didn't want to see the position but ultimately he had to and has Alex Lowe's got the opportunity to come through as well
15:39As we see them he has indeed come through on Jonathan Reyes. So Reyes loses two places in one go
15:44Yeah, Reyes just trying to hold on with everything he has up against more bikes from the Honda and for Igor Lekuona
15:49He's able to come through and importantly for Lekuona as well. Just show just how much he wants to make those moves as well
15:55He wasn't gonna wait until the next time come down to start finish straight and pick off the Yamaha on the run down towards turn one
16:01He knew that this was a chance to be able to make a move and make a bit of a statement
16:04So Lowe's back up into sixth position Jonathan Reyes down to seventh a shame for him
16:08Of course because having run close to those podium places early on you want to see the old master get back to his best
16:14But at the moment, it's Andrea Locatelli doing a good job at for Yamaha
16:17As we see a replay of how Alex Lowe's managed to slot his way through on Jonathan Reyes as well
16:21Jonathan Reyes a little bit cautious there up on the outside line on the on the white paint on the white line
16:25Yeah up on that white line and the paint and then the blue paint as well
16:29There's a lot of areas there that can catch it
16:31Just looking at Michael Vandermark as well a lot faster than the riders in front of him as well last time around obviously as they battle with each other
16:36But he's bringing Javi Vieira here with him as well and a new fastest lap of the race from top-rack Razgatlioglu
16:41One minute thirty seven point one four nine one and a half seconds now his gap over Alvaro Bautista
16:46Who maybe looks a little bit more vulnerable to Niccolo Bulliger behind than he does?
16:50Likely to chase down Razgatlioglu at the head of the field
16:53Bulliger as you say with a new personal best last time around a 137 at four
16:57So he's gonna dispatch Andrea Locatelli and get off to Bautista for second place
17:04He's just got that little bit of a margin tenth of a second here a tenth of a second there
17:08And he's now open up that gap to two seconds and on this lap already another half second top racks put the hammer down
17:13And he's making sure he's winning this race past his first two sectors again on lap ten for Razgatlioglu
17:18And that's why he's breaking Bautista here six tenths gain on lap ten
17:22And this is going to swiftly turn into a race for second and third positions
17:26How quickly can Niccolo Bulliger wrestle clear of Andrea Locatelli you fancy?
17:30It might just be on the start finish straight at the end of this lap. Yeah, it's gonna be through in about 25 seconds
17:35That's when he needs to give chase to his teammate as well and train just fall back as many points
17:41He can just do what you you're able to do to keep the pressure on
17:44I was getting all good coming into this round with
17:4639 points in hand top rack obviously has that big advantage
17:49Diggin start of the start finish straight at the end of lap number 10 and Bolliger is already through on
17:55Andrea Locatelli Locatelli back to the inside just in case Bolliger overcooks it
18:00But he's not going to and Niccolo Bolliger has completed his recovery into the podium positions again
18:05Next on his radar is Alvaro Bautista his teammate for second
18:08Yeah
18:08And for Bolliger last time around quarter of a second faster than his teammate Bautista
18:12But both of them over half a second slower than Razgatlioglu top rack the last two laps 37 1 37 1 so he's got speed
18:19He's got contestancy absolutely incredible again from top rack. Just remember that last month. He was getting battered about at Magny-Cours
18:26Off a barrier and out of the action and missing two race weekends worth of point scoring opportunities here
18:32He's set to extend his series lead to
18:3448 if things stay as they are at present then top rack is very much still in line to confirm the world championship at the
18:39End of the day tomorrow, but Bolliger I think has closed down a significant chunk on Alvaro Bautista this lap already
18:46We saw Bautista looked a little bit harem scare him as well through turn six and Bolliger is now right on his tail
18:51Yeah, Bautista's lost all that time in sector three as well
18:54But the sector one and two they matched each other, but on this one at six tenths of a second
18:58Oh Bautista's down from second position
19:01Bolliger is released into second place as Bautista crashes out of race one on lap 11 and in that section
19:06It's turn six that long left hander
19:09And he was struggling through there just to be able to find the grip and then down in towards the hairpin and catch them out
19:14as well, but you can see for Alvaro there just losing it on the entry and that's his championship hopes obviously up in smoke now
19:21But for Alvaro, you're trying to chase down top rack. You're trying to hold on to P2. You're pushing as hard as you can
19:27Yes, but unfortunately it does continue the trend for Bautista doesn't it?
19:31How many times have we seen him go down from podium positions and how many points has he wasted in recent rounds?
19:36Yeah, that's the thing for Alvaro through the course this season obviously champion the last two years
19:40But all of the mistakes have added up through the course this season. So lap 12 Razgatlioglu leads by three and a half seconds
19:47I think we were deprived of a fight for second place there between the two Aruba.IT Ducati teammates Bolliger and Bautista
19:53Locatelli six tenths of a second further back now in the podium places
19:57Yeah in the podium spot for Locatelli, but the podium battle is with Iker Lekwunen. Lekwunen is fast
20:01He's in the 37s consistently closing up on Locatelli again this lap. Bautista by the looks of things coming in to retire
20:08He had remounted but returns to pit lane. So Razgatlioglu
20:13Your race leader 3.7 seconds is his advantage now just for Luca Bernardi the top racks coming up on he's coming up to lap him
20:20Because Bernardi came into the pits a few laps ago and he's just rejoined the race
20:24So for Luca, it's a bit of a shame on his return to the class that he's had a problem here in the race
20:28But good to see him back out here. Yeah, good to see him back out opportunity obviously to get some laps in and
20:33Understand things before we go again at tomorrow two races on Sunday or as always in World SBK
20:39So this would be your point situation if things were to stay as they are at present Alvaro Bautista failing to score would drop
20:45106 points behind top rack Razgatlioglu with a win with
20:49Bolliger second behind him would open that advantage by another five points and we'd be up at
20:5344 points the gap between the two of them top rack as I said at the top of the show needs to be putting bikes
20:58Between himself and Bolliger in order to get the job done at least weekend
21:01And so he shows some of his customary flair in towards turn one
21:05Say well with a four second lead the BMW team don't need to see top rack doing that into T1
21:11Few personal best last time around for Jonathan Wray in sixth position
21:14So he's digging in 1.3 seconds up the road from Michael Vandermark behind him
21:19Just want to see if he can go with Lowe's and Lecuona as they close down Andrea
21:22Locatelli for the final step on the podium. Another four tenths of a second last time around for Lecuona compared to Locatelli
21:27He is coming, but he's got two seconds to make up. Yes. So the advantage is with Andrea Locatelli and that's the good work
21:33He did in those early laps. Yeah, the start of races here in WorldSBK as you can see for top rack
21:37He's enjoying himself, isn't he? This is what we always see from Razgatlioglu. He's got that confidence
21:43He wants to keep being the showman that he is
21:45but in WorldSBK at the moment you're better off being at the front of the field and falling backwards rather than having pace and
21:51Coming through at the end of the race as Gareth Gurloff a couple of laps ago set his personal best lap of the race
21:55But coming from at 6th through the grid
21:57He's down there in P9 now
21:59Trying to recover and it's certainly for Locatelli and for the other riders
22:02You're better off having that speed at the start of the race and giving yourself the best chance possible
22:06Riders to watch for the moment are in fourth, fifth and sixth positions covered by 1.2 seconds Lecuona, Lowe's and Ray
22:12And you've said about Lecuona doing a good job to close down Andrea Locatelli
22:16Lowe's is more or less going with his pace actually faster than Lecuona last lap around half a second his gap to fourth position
22:22So when Lecuona does get to Locatelli, there's still a sniff of a podium here for Alex Lowe's
22:26Yeah, there is and for Lowe's that's gonna be important
22:28That was a mistake in the Super Bowl session having that crash and the last few rounds have been tough for him
22:32This is an opportunity to be able to get yourself back onto the podium and an opportunity to close down points on the two
22:38Riders ahead of him in the championship who we've both seen or we've seen both come down
22:42Yeah, you can see for Lowe's there and Lecuona, Lowe's still in the 1.37s faster than Locatelli
22:47But it's not fine enough right now. They need to find another few tenths of a second for Lowe's
22:51Further back another new personal best lap from Garrett Girloff such a shame for him that he qualified all the way down on sixth
22:57We're out of grid with P17. He has climbed to ninth. There's still more mileage in this race
23:02You fancy the next two riders look a little bit vulnerable to him van der Mark and Fierke
23:06But as to whether he can climb any further than that
23:08It's going to rely on swift progress now seven and a half laps to go in this race one a shame
23:14We lost Bautista because it denied us our fights between Bautista and Bulliger
23:17But hopefully Ikka Lecuona and Alex Lowe's are going to give us some action in the closing laps here
23:22And who knows maybe Jonathan Ray can go with them as well
23:24Yeah
23:24let's see if they're able just to
23:25keep the pressure on the reason that Bautista is looking to leave the pits is he wants to be able to get that bit of
23:30Information in the dry on these tires as well
23:32Now he makes his way down pit lane, but Alvaro Bautista
23:36Crashing out from second place in a crucial turn 9 spill in the context of this race
23:42and you can see there's a shake of the hands the shake of the head for Bautista as he
23:46Crashes that bike and knows what's happening
23:48You can see just a little shake there to make sure that the bikes gonna be okay for him
23:52But he wants to just go out there and get a little bit of information for tomorrow's race
23:55Quick check up on the standings then as we are on lap 14
23:59Razgadlioglu ahead of Bulliger 4.6 seconds. Is that margin an ever-increasing top right still in the mid 1 minute 37s?
24:07Bulliger then holds second place. Why 1.2 seconds ahead of Andrea Locatelli Lecuona now only 1.7 back
24:14So he has made 4 tenths of a second on that previous lap and Alex Lowe's trying to go with him still only half a
24:19Second back from Lecuona 2.2 now the gap to Andrea Locatelli and Ray still within a second of Lowe
24:24So those three all closing up on Locatelli for third position
24:27Yeah
24:27That's what they need to do keep pulling back that three four tenths of a second and giving yourself that opportunity
24:32to be in the mix in a couple of laps to go
24:34Three seconds between the teammates then Locatelli and Ray
24:38It's been a tough time in 2024 for Jonathan Ray
24:40I'm sure he'd like to have the opportunity to claim another couple of scouts as we watch Razgadlioglu
24:45It's a pretty lonely race
24:46It's going to be going to have been from him lost a few positions in those early laps
24:50But it didn't waste too much time getting back on terms and now helpfully just to bring home the point
24:55We see Alvaro Bautista ahead of him on track, but not ahead of him. Of course in terms of position
24:59Yeah for Alvaro all the way down in 20. He's not going to score points in this one, but it's still an all-time
25:06No, it isn't. It's Locatelli from further back
25:10Fooled there by the change to the two Ducatis, but Locca out of those podium spots
25:14We saw for the last few laps just how much he's been pushing on and giving himself those
25:19Few tenths of a second that he's losing to the other riders. He knew he was under pressure for that podium spot and
25:24For Lecone, he now moves up into third. It's his old teammate
25:28We'll spare your blushes on that one Andrea Locatelli going out from behind Niccolo Bulliger there in third position
25:34Heavy hit for the bike. Thankfully the rider was left clear of the bike before before there was bigger damage done
25:39But a real shame, but it does also promote Ika Lecone now up into the podium positions Lowe's and Ray closing him down
25:46We've got a race on our hands for third position this afternoon. Yeah, Jonathan Ray new personal best last time around
25:50There's only a second separating those three riders and Lecone in those podium spots right now
25:56Really good stuff for Honda to give yourself that opportunity
26:00So our fight is for third position Raz Gatley-Oglue
26:03Up at the head of the field 5.8 seconds clear of this man Niccolo Bulliger then 2.2 seconds back to Ika Lecone
26:09And our fight is for third fourth and fifth
26:11Those are the riders that will be watching in the closing stages five and a half laps to go
26:15And here we pick up Ika Lecone last of those podium positions
26:19But can he defend it successfully against Alex Lowe's the pace has been very even between the two of them
26:24So it's up to Lowe's to find something extra in these closing laps
26:26Yeah half a second between them and for Lecone just running a bit hot into that double apex left-hander
26:32But able to get it collected and keep himself nice and tidy through that section
26:36But there is the opportunity Jonathan Ray personal best last time around. He knows there's a chance of him back on the podium
26:41He's seen his teammate crash out
26:43But you know that Jonathan Ray will throw caution to the wind if there is an opportunity for a podium because they have been
26:48rare as hen's teeth in
26:502024
26:51Jonathan Ray at Donington Park was able to deliver some of his magic of old in Super Bowl in Assen
26:56But otherwise quiet campaign Ika Lecone are actually still gaining ground on Niccolo Bulliger last lap around Bulliger set a 1 minute 38.659
27:05Lecone has made up another three-tenths of a second on this lap
27:08So Bulliger not looking entirely comfortable at this stage of the race as Razgat Lioglu continues to rattle off mid 1 minute 37
27:16Bulliger 138.2
27:18Lowe's still in the 137 said Ika Lecone a
27:21138 flat Jonathan Ray just losing some ground there off the final turn and down the start finish straight as further back
27:27Flashing past our commentary position Garrett Gurloff has come through on Chavie Vierke and is up now into seventh place
27:33Gurloff again just strong in the closing stage of the race and he's gonna put himself in a position to be able to challenge Van
27:38De Mark as well in these closing four and a half laps to try and bridge that to second March as it is
27:43It's all about this battle for third position right now and for Ika Lecone and the HRC team
27:49They've made all that progress in recent reigns three rounds in a row with both riders inside the top ten
27:54But there's a difference to being in the top ten and fighting for a podium and Lecone
27:57He's ridden well in this one the way battled with Jonathan Ray was making sure he was coming through on him
28:02Now he needs to battle hard to hold on to that podium spot
28:04And I'll tell you what he's closed another three tenths of a second on this lap on Niccolo Bulliger again
28:09So it's not entirely out of the question that Lecone could close down Bulliger for this second place
28:14Yeah for Lecone 1.8 seconds the margin four laps left at the end of this one
28:19And he's pulled back at least half a second on this lap so far another two tenths of a second in the last sector
28:25So for Lecone and for Lowe's they're still being dragged up towards Bulliger
28:29It's less of a question of Lecone that much faster
28:32It's a question of Bulliger's pace has dropped off and the others haven't they're maintaining a consistent rhythm
28:36So it's Bulliger looking very vulnerable now 1.6 seconds the gap that was 2.1 at the start of this lap
28:41And Toprak comes across line 37.7 for Razgadioglu as he comes across the line
28:45Let's see what Bulliger's times are compared to that again
28:48It's those low 38s 32, 38.2 but half a second faster Ika Lecone the gap there 1.7 seconds
28:54That's because he's upped his pace hasn't he?
28:56Alex Lowe's has dropped a tenth of a second or so to Lecone ahead of him seven tenths of a second now the gap Jonathan
29:02Wright can't go with that pace ahead of him. Although he is still in the low one minute 38 raised 1.3 seconds back from low
29:08So it does look like being a three rider fight for second and third positions Bulliger Lecone a fast closing and Alex Lowe's
29:14For Bulliger on this lap. He's been able to stabilize that in sector one
29:18You can see for Lecone how much he's pushing at this stage as well
29:21He's trying to give it everything in those corner entries
29:24You saw heavy braking in towards turn two down into three as well
29:27Just trying to make sure that he's able to be on that limit. He knows that there's a chance of finishing second
29:31He also knows that any mistake will be pounced on by Alex Lowe's
29:34So for Lecone he needs to just make sure he's able to run basically super whole laps between now and the end of the race
29:40Bulliger then
29:42Separated the length of that straight and it's not a long one either
29:44Ahead of Lecone Lowe's and Jonathan Wright still able to see those podium positions
29:49It'll be so frustrating for Jonathan Wright not least because the Kawasaki
29:53But he formerly rode of course is sitting up ahead of him with a chance to get on the podium as well
29:58Yeah, and for Jonathan faster than Bulliger last time around and still running good
30:03Consistent pace in this race two tenths of a second off his fastest lap just goes to show that they just don't have that ultimate
30:09Pace on the Yamaha. Yes, and part of that
30:11You've got to admit is down the start finish straight little bit of good fortune for Ikka Lecone here with Bautista
30:18Obviously Locatelli Petrucci all that going out of this race. Although Bautista's rejoined
30:23He's a couple of laps down promoting Lecone into these podium positions
30:27But now he's got to hold it and Lowe's is still right on his tail and gained ground on him last time around on lap 80
30:32Yeah
30:33Bulliger's been able to get back down into the 37s last time around and in that final sector Lowe's was able to pull back some
30:39of the time on Lecone
30:40So it does look like Lecone probably just has a bit too much ground to make up to make his way up into P2
30:45We're watching Michael Reuben Rinaldi here past Scott Redding for 11th position
30:49but both of them behind Tito Rabat who's having another good race after a
30:53Sensational performance from him in Cremona a couple of top 10 finishes on Sunday at the Italian round another top 10 potentially in prospect here
31:00Yeah, good effort from Rabat on that Puccelli Kawasaki to be able to finish the season quite strong
31:06lap 19 of
31:0821 and it's Rauskathli up to seven and a half seconds now just marching away at the head of the field
31:12Bulliger though importantly has consolidated his pace and his advantage in seconds
31:17Yeah, Bulliger with 1.8 seconds at hand over Lecone
31:20Who's also managed to do a good job in this lap to pull another couple of tenths of a second on Alex Lowe's
31:24So it does look like it's been settling down there at the podium battle
31:29But we'll wait and see if these final two and a half laps just create something there in that battle at the front
31:34So fights in the closing laps here will be for third position Ikka Lecone
31:397 tenths of a second up on Alex Lowe's Jonathan Rea now 1.7 seconds further back doesn't look like being any change
31:44We have got a scrap on our hands for sixth place though Vandermark versus Gerloff both BMW mounted
31:50Of course, this is their stable mate Rauskathli Oglu pulling away from the rest of the field
31:54And we'll see how they are as they come past our commentary position in towards turn one
31:59We pick them up now Vandermark up ahead of Garrett Gerloff
32:02But I don't think that's for too much longer and Vandermark last time around set a 139
32:07Gerloff with a 138 too
32:08So he's a lot faster Vandermark sweeps across the path of Garrett Gerloff into turn one won't give it up without a fight
32:14But Gerloff is far faster at the moment than Michael Vandermark
32:17So it doesn't take him too long to get through in the end anyway in towards turn two
32:21Yeah, and for Vandermark you're trying to fight as valiantly as you can to hold on to that position
32:25But Gerloff's just got more bike underneath him at this stage and last time around he was almost a second faster than Vandermark
32:32So Mike is just gonna have to settle for seven
32:34I said earlier on in the race to know that Garrett Gerloff could probably get Vandermark
32:37But probably wouldn't get any higher than that
32:394.7 seconds is the gap to Jonathan Wray next in line and fast as Gerloff is at this stage of the race
32:44So even that is far beyond his capabilities in just one and a half laps
32:49Rauskathli Oglu running around at the head of the field still directly behind Alvaro Bautista on track incidentally
32:56Bautista setting low 1 minute 38s himself
32:58We don't know what his pace would have been later on in this race
33:02But he at least will be getting some learning here before at the Superpole race tomorrow
33:06And he will hope to take the fight to Toprak on Sunday
33:09Here in Estoril as he did in Aragon last time out
33:12But Toprak has looked to have a significant advantage over the rest of the field here
33:15Yeah, Toprak loves this place goes very well around Estoril and finally giving himself that chance to prove it
33:21Once again after some close some near misses here as well despite his couple of race victories, but he's always been on the podium
33:27He's always felt good here
33:29As well in the Superpole session this morning and now Toprak's into that final lap
33:33That pit board 8.2 seconds is in another way
33:37It's a euphemism for slow down Toprak
33:39You don't need to be pushing like you are late on
33:42Still riding in the 1 minute 37s remember fastest lap of this race on lap 9 at 1.37.1
33:47Toprak with a 1.37.9 last time around on the penultimate lap of the race
33:52Only race still to be decided on this last lap last 4 kilometers or so
33:56Alex Lowe's still half a second back from Ika Lekuwona
33:58Well Lekuwona has shown all the signs of being able to hold him off
34:01Well on this lap Lowe's pulled back a quarter of a second in sector 1
34:05So he's trying to edge himself back up
34:07But he's probably got a little bit too much to make up half a second behind the podium spot
34:11Dominant performance from Toprak Razgatlioglu another two tenths of a second gained in sector 2 by Alex Lowe's for the final step off
34:17The podium three tenths of a second now between them that gap was double at the start of this lap
34:21Yeah, he's gonna have to try and set the move up into where Razgatlioglu is now down in towards turn 9 and 10
34:26And just be close enough to try and force the issue. This is Bullock at second place
34:30He's isolated 8.8 seconds 1.8 the gap behind him and then it's Lekuwona versus Lowe's
34:36I wonder whether Lowe's might have made a mistake though in sector 3 because he's lost four tenths of a second through there
34:41And it doesn't look as though he is going to be able to get there
34:44But Toprak Razgatlioglu is making his way through three weeks on the sidelines three second places in Aragon
34:52But Toprak Razgatlioglu is back on top as he extends his championship lead by another five points over his nearest rival
34:59Niccolo Bullock and Honda are back on the podium with Ika Lekuwona taking third position here in Estoril
35:06Delightful team HRC fourth place for Alex Lowe's didn't have quite enough in the second half of that last lap
35:13Jonathan Wray one of his better performances rounds out your top five then Gerloff, Van der Maat, Wierke, Yunone
35:19Will Tito Rabat just hold on ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi?
35:22Oh, it's close as they cross the line just looking out of our commentary box
35:25But Rabat has got it by less than a tenth of a second over Rinaldi
35:29And then Reading Sam Lowe's Dominic Egeta on his return from injury and Ivo Lopez should be able to get a point from his
35:36Home round as well. Super ride from Toprak Razgatlioglu take nothing away from him, but it was a rather isolated race
35:43There was more action further back for those podium positions
35:46Ika Lekuwona coming through the field very nicely indeed his best finish in WorldSVK
35:52Matching a third place in race two of the Dutch round in
35:562022 Ika Lekuwona with a super podium there
35:59Yeah, really good stuff from Lekuwona, kept a cool head all the way through that race and able to come away with a podium spot
36:04Obviously the crashes in front of him for Locatelli and Petrucci and Baptiste to help it
36:09But even without that you're in that top six and showing the form that Honda have been showing in recent rounds
36:14So really good to be able to see Lekuwona perform like that and get on to the podium and again
36:18Just continue to have four rounds in a row where Honda's been a lot stronger and a lot more consistent
36:22Rostrum spots have been pretty rare for Honda
36:24Haven't they? The 2022 Dutch round for Ika Lekuwona, the 2023 Indonesian round for Xavi Vieque
36:30And now the 2024 ESTA round for Ika Lekuwona, third place for him in race one this afternoon
36:35And crucially Alex a first for Jose Escamet in his first season here. Jose
36:40We spoke yesterday that maybe in the dodgy conditions of podium, but actually in the dry
36:45Yeah, it's been amazing. Actually
36:49Right now I have no words. It's been a roller coaster with lots of up and downs and he made it
36:56I'm happy. How happy? Tears there I think? Yeah, a little bit. Of course. It's always nice to
37:03To get this this feeling back, you know, so but we need to be
37:09Honest and there is still a lot to do and
37:12We still have to work a lot. So we need to stay humble and
37:18Keep doing what we are doing. Get ready for the Vesaka. You deserve it. Well done. Thank you so much
37:24Yeah celebrations for Honda as I say those podiums have been too rare for HRC in recent years
37:29But third place today for Ika Lekuwona. Tito Rabat celebrating as though he's got on the podium as well
37:34Another top ten finish for him a good effort from Rabat on the Kawasaki be able to do that for Pichetti
37:39And as you said Alex we saw in Cremona a step forward from him and again
37:43It's nice to be able to see that continuing in this one as well and a little bit of stunt demonstration as well
37:48We did have a good stunt show before we got underway with race one on the start finish straight