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Toprak Razgatlioglu has extended his lead in the Superbike World Championship. In the first long race of the weekend, which was improvised this Sunday after the tragedy of Dean Berta Viñales, the Turk beat Jonathan Rea in a very tense test that could end in disaster.
Razgatlioglu and Rea have had a touch in Dry Sack that could perfectly finish them both on the ground, but they were able to recover to finish with victory for the Yamaha. Scott Redding saves a podium on the last lap and Álvaro Bautista completed a great race, fifth, just ahead of Loris Baz.
Redding snatches the podium from Locatelli on the last lap
At the start Toprak Razgatlioglu started better than anyone and held the first position, although Jonathan Rea was already threatening to overtake. Third was Michael Ruben Rinaldi, but he slipped into Dry Sack and that allowed Andrea Locatelli to sneak ahead. Before finishing the first round, Rea was already first.
Alex Lowes' exit was terrible, dropping to ninth position, while the Hondas were very well placed, sixth and seventh, although with Leon Haslam in front of Álvaro Bautista. Scott Redding was already passing Rinaldi. Rea's pace didn't seem too high, because even Locatelli was half hooked on the leading duo.
The first fall of the race was that of Rinaldi, which made Bautista gain a place, who was already fifth. A strange error in a change of direction that seemed to correspond to a cold tire. Rea was starting to change his rhythm, but he got a scare and Razgatlioglu seemed able to hold the stake.
On lap fourteen came the big scare. Razgatlioglu tried to pass Rea and they both touchedFortunately, neither of them went to the ground, but in a pure miracle. Locatelli and Redding joined the duo. Notable role of Loris Baz, who was already seventh with Chaz Davies' motorcycle.
The race entered a decisive phase because Rea was shooting, opening half a second ahead of Razgatlioglu. But the Yamaha rider was quickly sticking back to his rival for the title, showing that he had something more. The tires were going to be key, because Rea's were somewhat harder.
Razgatlioglu was leading the race with seven laps to go with another very risky overtaking. Rea was holding on to the Turk, wanting to find the hole, but the strength of Razgatlioglu when braking made it difficult for him in a special way. He had to find a hole in the twistiest area.
Baz continued his comeback, climbing up to sixth place and being a very real threat to Álvaro Bautista. Razgatlioglu seemed to be escaping in the lead, with more than half a second of advantage over Rea. The final thrill was Redding, who was chasing Locatelli on the last laps.
Victory for Toprak Razgatlioglu, who extends his advantage a little more in front of the World Cup regarding Jonathan Rea. Scott Redding takes the podium after overtaking Locatelli on the last lap. Great fifth position for Álvaro Bautista, a very solid career and in the end without suffering against Loris Baz.
