Bulega holds off Razgatlioglu to win Cremona WorldSBK Race 1

Full 2025 Cremona WorldSBK Race 1 Results – Nicolo Bulega edged Toprak Razgatlioglu to secure a landmark victory on home soil, further solidifying his position as the championship leader.

The race unfolded under intense heat and high anticipation with the passionate Italian crowd witnessing a dramatic contest between the season’s top contenders and a field determined to make their mark on the championship.

Nicolo Bulega’s weekend began with a statement of intent after dominating Friday practice before shattering his own lap record in Saturday’s qualifying, setting a blistering 1:27.866 to secure pole position.

This established the Aruba.it Ducati star emerged as the only rider to have lapped in under 1:28, reinforcing his dominance and setting the stage for a fierce battle in Cremona WorldSBK Race 1.

Sam Lowes lined up alongside him having pushed hard to take second on the grid while reigning champion and Bulega’s closest rival in the standings Toprak Razgatlioglu completed the front row.

As the lights went out Bulega made a clean start from pole, immediately seizing the holeshot into Turn 1. Meanwhile Razgatlioglu starting from third demonstrated his trademark aggression by surging into second place and then making a daring move on Bulega at Turn 13 before the end of the opening lap.

The early exchange set the tone for a gripping duel at the front with both riders trading positions and pushing the limits of their machines. Despite the fierce contest, the pair quickly established a gap over the rest of the field, their pace unmatched in the opening laps.

Bulega responded to Razgatlioglu’s challenge with calculated precision. On Lap 3 he reclaimed the lead down the back straight at Turn 11 only for Razgatlioglu to counterattack at Turn 13, showcasing the Turkish rider’s relentless determination.

The lead exchanged hands several times in the opening laps with both riders exploiting every inch of the circuit and testing each other’s resolve.

However, Bulega’s superior pace on used tires became increasingly apparent as the race progressed. By Lap 6 he made a decisive move at Turn 11, retaking the lead and gradually beginning to pull away as Razgatlioglu’s challenge faded with tire wear.

Behind the leading duo, Alvaro Bautista settled into third after an assertive start, overtaking Sam Lowes and quickly distancing himself from the chasing pack.

Bautista’s race became a solitary affair; while unable to match the pace of Bulega and Razgatlioglu, he was comfortably clear of the riders behind ultimately finishing over 11 seconds adrift of the winner but nearly 12 seconds ahead of fourth place.

The battle for fourth saw Andrea Iannone initially under pressure from Iker Lecuona who managed to overtake him with ten laps remaining. However, Lecuona’s challenge was short-lived as he crashed soon after, handing fourth place back to Iannone.

Xavi Vierge delivered a solid ride for Honda HRC, crossing the line in fifth and demonstrating the steady progress of the Japanese manufacturer. Remy Gardner rounded out the top six for GYTR GRT Yamaha, finishing just behind Vierge after a consistent and trouble-free race.

Danilo Petrucci, Michael van der Mark, Axel Bassani and Scott Redding completed the top ten, each rider navigating the challenging conditions and capitalizing on retirements and incidents further up the order.

Cremona WorldSBK Race 1 was not without drama and disappointment for several notable names. Andrea Locatelli suffered his first retirement of the season after crashing out at Turn 2 while battling in the midfield.

Despite remounting and rejoining the race he could only manage an 18th-place finish just ahead of his factory Yamaha teammate Jonathan Rea who also endured a difficult outing on his return to action, finishing 19th.

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Bautista fastest in Cremona final practice ahead of Locatelli

Tito Rabat was forced to retire on the opening lap due to a mechanical failure while wildcard entrant Gabriele Ruiu crashed out at Turn 13 on Lap 5. Tarran Mackenzie’s race ended prematurely with a technical problem on Lap 8.

Sam Lowes, who had shown impressive speed in qualifying despite battling illness endured a challenging race. After a strong start from the front row, he ran wide on Lap 6 and gradually slipped down the order, eventually finishing 12th.

His brother Alex Lowes mounted a commendable recovery from 16th on the grid to finish 11th. Dominique Aegerter and Yari Montella also featured in the points with Montella finishing as the top rookie in 14th.

American Garrett Gerloff delivered a gritty performance, climbing from 18th on the grid to 15th at the flag aboard his Kawasaki ZX-10RR while Ryan Vickers finished just outside the points in 16th.

Bahattin Sofuoglu gained two positions from his starting spot to finish 17th, highlighting the competitive depth of the field.

2025 Cremona WorldSBK Race 1 Results