Razgatlioglu secures second World Superbike crown

Toprak Razgatlioglu clinched his second World Superbike title

Toprak Razgatlioglu has been crowned World Superbike champion for the second time.

The Turkish rider finished second in Saturday's first race of the weekend at the Jerez circuit to build an unassailable 41-point lead over nearest challenger Nicolo Bulega, who took victory at the Spanish circuit.

Razgatlioglu becomes the first rider to win the series on a BMW in his first season with the German manufacturer.

The 28-year-old made the switch from Yamaha for 2024, having won his first title with the Japanese marque in 2021.

In the subsequent two years, he finished second in the final championship standings behind back-to-back champion, Spaniard Alvaro Bautista.

Bulega, of Italy, ultimately won Saturday's race in convincing fashion, having six seconds to spare over the newly crowned champion to secure the manufacturers' title for Ducati.

Italian Andrea Locatelli was third on his Yamaha, a further 3.5 seconds back, to complete the podium, with British rider Alex Lowes fourth for Kawasaki.

Northern Ireland's Jonathan Rea, a six-time champion, finished 11th and now sits 13th in the overall standings.

The final two races of 2024 will take place on Sunday - the Superpole event at 10:00 BST and the second feature race three hours later.