In the years 2022 and 2023, the three main riders of the World Superbike (WSBK) – Alvaro Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu, and Jonathan Rea – dominated the competition, winning almost every race. Out of a total of 72 races, only one was won by a rider who was not part of this “trio”. Although it was not necessarily boring, the consistent success of these riders established a predictable pattern. However, the recent season break brought significant changes to the formula. In the first weekend of the new WSBK season at Phillip Island, none of the “trio” riders won any of the races. This could potentially signal a new era for WSBK, deviating from the familiar dominance of the top riders.
The weekend at Phillip Island saw a change in the usual WSBK hierarchy. The race results were as follows:
Saturday’s main race: 1. Bulega (Ducati), 2. Locatelli (Yamaha), 3. Iannone (Ducati)
Sunday’s sprint race: 1. A Lowes (Kawasaki), 2. Locatelli (Yamaha), 3. Razgatlioglu (BMW)
Sunday’s main race: 1. A Lowes (Kawasaki), 2. Bautsita (Ducati), 3. Petrucci (Ducati)
The current championship standings after the weekend are as follows:
1 Alex Lowes – 50
2 Nicolo Bulega – 41
3 Andrea Locatelli – 29
4 Andrea Iannone – 29
5 Alvaro Bautista – 27
Alvaro Bautista, who is now in his second stint as a Ducati WSBK rider, has established himself as a dominant force in the series. Despite a challenging preseason due to an injury, Bautista has consistently been successful at Phillip Island, winning eight out of the nine races there. However, in the recent races, Bautista has faced strong competition from his teammates Nicolo Bulega and Sam Lowes, and even suffered a crash while trying to overtake Axel Bassani. Although Bautista may have faced setbacks, he has expressed appreciation for the new competitive balance in WSBK.
Andrea Iannone, a satellite rider for Ducati by Go Eleven, made a remarkable comeback at Phillip Island. Despite a four-year suspension for doping, Iannone showed his talent and led several laps during the races. Although he missed out on a victory due to a sudden loss of grip and resulting crash, Iannone expressed satisfaction with his performance and remained positive about the season.
Nicolo Bulega, a former prospect of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy, had a strong debut as an official Ducati rider in WSBK. He showed impressive lap times during preseason testing and secured pole position in his debut. Although some may argue that his debut win was luck due to the pitstop rule, Bulega’s performance throughout the weekend indicated his potential as one of the leaders. Despite struggling with poor starts, Bulega’s speed and skill make him a formidable competitor.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, who made a surprising move from Yamaha to BMW, demonstrated his adaptability and talent at Phillip Island. Although he faced a time penalty in the first race and an engine failure in the third race, Razgatlioglu consistently performed well. His competitiveness on the straights and ability to adapt to a different bike highlight his potential as one of BMW’s top riders.
Jonathan Rea, who switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha, had a challenging start to the season. Dealing with the consequences of an accident during preseason testing and facing issues during pit stops, Rea struggled to find his usual speed on the Yamaha R1. He was surpassed by his teammate Andrea Locatelli and expressed frustration with rear vibration issues. However, it is expected that Rea will improve as he adapts to the new bike.
Overall, the weekend at Phillip Island showed a more competitive and exciting WSBK. With a closer field of riders and impressive performances from Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW, and Ducati, the season promises thrilling races and the potential for an unforgettable championship battle.
© 2024
Portugal wins Euro 2024 in thrilling final against Spain
On Sunday night, Portugal won Euro 2024 in an electrifying final against Spain. The match, played at Wembley Stadium in London, ended with the Portuguese national team’s 2-1 victory. It was a game full of emotions and twists that kept the fans glued to their seats until the final whistle.
The first half was dominated by Spain, who opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the 25th minute. However, Portugal did not falter and managed to equalize in the first half with a beautiful goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star once again showed his quality and leadership in decisive moments.
In the second half, Portugal returned more determined and began to press the Spanish defense. In the 65th minute, striker João Félix scored the winning goal, leaving Portuguese fans in ecstasy. Spain tried to react but was met with a solid Portuguese defense and couldn’t equalize the game.
With the victory, Portugal secures their second Euro title, repeating the feat of 2016. The Portuguese national team showed consistent football throughout the tournament and deserved to lift the trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo was elected the tournament’s best player, crowning his brilliant performance.
The celebration in Portugal has already begun and promises to last all night. Thousands of fans gathered in the streets of the country’s main cities to celebrate the victory. Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, congratulated the team and highlighted the importance of football for the country.
Euro 2024 was marked by great matches and surprises. Several traditional teams were eliminated along the way, while others showed high-level football. Spain, despite the defeat in the final, also had an excellent campaign and can be proud of their performance.
Now, the football world’s attention turns to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The teams are already starting to prepare for the biggest tournament in world football, in search of the long-awaited title. Euro 2024 will be missed, but the excitement of football will continue in the upcoming competitions.
