The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has often thrown up surprised in its short time on the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, and 2024 was no exception. After last lap fights, incredible battles and much, much more, it’s time to look at some of the barely believable overtakes that happened during the round with two corners that don’t normally have lots of overtaking featuring a lot.
REPLICATING ROSSI: Razgatlioglu’s sensational move as Bautista goes from P1 to P3
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led on the final lap but he didn’t lead at the end of it, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) taking a maiden BMW victory. Forcing his way through at the final corner of Turn 14, the #54 moved himself into the lead with just a few hundred metres to go, with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) taking advantage to move into second and demote the reigning Champion into third.
ANOTHER STUNNER FROM THE #54: one corner, two passes
The Tissot Superpole Race will be remembered for the last gasp move by Razgatlioglu, but another move needs to be highlighted. Mid-way through the race, the 2021 Champion got a good run out of Turn 8 and used it to full advantage. He stormed up the inside of both Iannone and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) to gain two places at a corner you don’t see many overtakes at.
BAUTISTA ON LOCATELLI AT TURN 6: unconventional to say the least…
Bautista was involved in another unexpected overtake, as he passed Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) at Turn 6. A corner that’s on the short straight between the tight Turn 5 left-hander and the left-hander of Turn 7 that starts the chicane, normally riders are able to pull alongside but the move for Bautista came at the left-hand kink of Turn 6. Unexpected, yet adding to the list of corners becoming overtaking opportunities.
TURN 7-8 CHICANE: almost impossible to pass… but it happened
Lap 5 of the Superpole Race will go down as a memorable one, with action everywhere. It kicked off at Turn 5 when Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) passed Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), before Iannone forced the #11 wide and moved ahead. After that, his sights were soon set on the #22 ahead and he tried to make the move at the Turn 7-8 chicane, the pair running side-by-side at a section of the track that can best be described as single file.
AGGRESSIVE THROUGH TURN 3: Alex Lowes on Bulega
After a frantic start to the race, riders were trying to gain positions back or fight through the field. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) lost ground at the start but was soon on the charge, fighting with Alex Lowes through the opening sector. After banging bars through Turns 1 and 2, the #22 went through fairly forcefully at Turn 3 to keep the position in a superb fight.
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Source: WorldSBK.com