Razgatlioglu closes gap on Bautista with Superpole win

Toprak Razgatlioglu won Sunday's Superpole race ahead of Jonathan Rea at WSBK Czech Republic.

However, it was Axel Bassani who enjoyed the brightest start, coming from the second row of the grid to lead the pack into the first corner, followed by Rea and pole-sitter Razgatlioglu.

Meanwhile, riders' championship leader Alvaro Bautista, who started 14th on the grid, had moved up to sixth by the end of the opening lap.

At the front of the field, Bassani still led but Razgatlioglu would reel in Rea on lap four, outbreaking him in at Turn 1. Bassani was the next victim, with the Turk sliding pat at Turn 15.

The sun continued to set on Bassani's brief glory, as Rea went down the inside on lap five and set about chasing Razgatlioglu. Bautista, however, had moved up to fourth with Bassani in his sights.

Rea then grabbed the lead on lap six, taking advantage of a lapse in concentration. True to form, the Yamaha rider got the position back just a few corners later.

Bautista would snatch third position - and an extra championship point - from Bassani in the penultimate corner of the race, while Razgatlioglu held on for victory up ahead. His win reduced Bautista's lead down to 49 points.

TOP NINE SUPERPOLE RESULTS:

1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK)

2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +1.203s

3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.968s

4. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +3.180s

5. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.310s

6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +8.205s

7. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +8.375s

8. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +9.021s

9. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +10.165s