WorldSBK Estoril SP Race Results | Rea pounces on late Razgatlioglu error to win

Jonathan Rea scored a dramatic last gasp victory in the WorldSBK Superpole Race at Estoril after a mistake on the final lap by defending champion Toprak Razgatlioglu cost him a comfortable success.

Eager to make amends for Race 1 when he lost his win after being out-dragged to the chequered flag by Alvaro Bautista, Razgatlioglu seemed on course to get that elusive first win of the year on the board in the short ten lap sprint at an overcast Estoril.

However, the damp, tricky conditions would ultimately catch the Turk out after he lost the front of the Yamaha R1 at the slow left-right uphill complex towards the end of the very final lap. 

Lucky to keep the Yamaha upright as it skated on its fairing before popping back onto its wheels, it was enough of a wobble to allow Rea to pounce, the Kawasaki man leaving little room for error as he sliced across the front of his rival coming around the following right-hander.

Indeed, Rea looked to be out of victory contention after coming off second best in a firm but clean overtake by Razgatlioglu at the start of lap seven. Seeing the Turk pull in front of his rival into the braking area, Rea’s inability to lean into the corner forced him out wide, ceding a second and appearing to decide the result there and then prior to the late revival..

Completing the podium, championship leader Alvaro Bautista once again paid for a slow getaway from the front row but never appeared to have the speed that took him to a last gasp victory on Saturday.

He was pushed all the way by an inspired Iker Lecuona, the ex-MotoGP rider making good use of his cut front tyre to be the quickest rider on track early on. Despite fading as the circuit dried, the Honda rider held onto fourth at the finish.

Andrea Locatelli completed the top five, ahead of Alex Lowes, with Scott Redding unable to make a bright start count as he eventually slipped to seventh. Michael Ruben Rinaldi and stand-in Xavi Fores completed the points’ paying positions for this race to secure their spots among the front three rows in Race 2.

In a race of high attrition, Xavi Vierge - top five in race one - was an early faller, while Bonovo BMW riders Loris Baz and Eugene Laverty fell separately within seconds of one another while running inside the points.

2022 WorldSBK Championship | Estoril, Portugal | Superpole Race RESULTS