WorldSBK braces for French battle as Razgatlioglu vs Bulega resumes in unmissable title fight

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back on track at the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours as Round 9 of an enthralling 2025 campaign approaches. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has the points advantage and the momentum heading into the French Round (September 5-7), but Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will hope he can halt Razgatlioglu’s charge at a circuit he won at twice in his rookie season.

THE BATTLE TO BE #1 IN 2025: Can Bulega halt Razgatlioglu’s momentum?

‘El Turco’ leads ‘Bulegas’ by 26 points heading into the ninth of 12 rounds in 2025 but the pair had vastly different experiences of Magny-Cours last year. Razgatlioglu had a heavy FP2 crash which ruled him out of the French and Italian Rounds while Bulega went on to claim a Sunday double. Razgatlioglu is a serial winner at the French circuit with eight wins and he has the chance to make it the third venue he’s won at 10 or more times, while, for Bulega, it could become his most successful circuit – a hat-trick would put him on five victories, more than any other track he’s won at in WorldSBK. Can Razgatlioglu keep the momentum building after the summer break, following on from his hat-trick of hat-tricks, or will Bulega be able to start closing down the reigning Champion?

GOING FOR A MEDAL: Advantage Petrucci but Bautista and Locatelli are close

The fight for third is still raging too. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) has the advantage right now, 15 points clear of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) in fourth. However, Petrucci will have a spring in his step after being announced as Razgatlioglu’s BMW replacement when the two-time Champion makes the switch to MotoGP in 2026. ‘Petrux’ took three rostrums at Magny-Cours last year and he’ll be hoping he can tighten his grip on P3 in the standings with more podiums. Locatelli, in contrast, has only been on the Magny-Cours podium once – in his first WorldSBK race there – something he’ll hope to change. Fifth in the standings is Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), although his future is now secure so his full focus can be on getting P3 in the standings.

IN THE TOP TEN: looking to end the year strongly

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) has enjoyed a stellar second campaign in WorldSBK although he’s also left points on the table, putting him in a relatively lonely P6 in the standings. A rostrum at Magny-Cours will be his first at the French venue in WorldSBK. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) are separated by seven points and the #97 will hope to close that gap, but the Bimota rider is a podium finisher at Magny-Cours on six occasions while Vierge has not had a rostrum at the classic circuit. Then, there’s a 15-point gap between the #22 and Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC), although the Spanish rider has been ruled unfit, still recovering from his left forearm fracture from Balaton and will miss the French Round. Lecuona will be replaced by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who brings three years of Moto2 experience to the Japanese factory team’s garage. Lecuona sits just three points clear of Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven), who in turn is only three ahead of Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), both of whom will aim to leapfrog Lecuona – who at least has his future secured; he’ll be replacing Bautista in 2026. Iannone is another who will need to be declared fit on Thursday if he is to race.

REA’S FAREWELL TOUR BEGINS: it starts at one of his favourite tracks

Magny-Cours has plenty of good memories for Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), and he’ll hope to add to these in 2025 as his final four rounds as a full-time rider begin. He’s already won there nine times, and been on the podium 21 times, and he’ll be aiming to add to that this year as he looks to end his career on a high.

FUTURE UP IN THE AIR: can Aegerter secure a 2026 seat?

With Stefano Manzi and Remy Gardner confirmed to race at GYRT GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team next year, Dominique Aegerter finds himself without a seat after a rollercoaster 2025 campaign. He’s 12^th in the standings, only six points behind Bassani, and will hope for a strong French Round; he’s only raced there once in WorldSBK, in 2023, and took a best of P6. He won there twice in four WorldSSP races and never finished off the podium. Gardner will have to be declared fit before he races in France. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) returns to the scene of his last win after delivering a wet-weather masterclass in 2024’s Race 1, aiming to return to some of the form from last year that saw him take P6 in the Championship standings; it’s similar for Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) who has a pole and a podium at Magny-Cours, but will need to be declared fit after he was caught up in the Balaton Park pile-up; the #31 did test at Aragon recently. The American is three points ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), who will hope for strong results in his first visit to Magny-Cours in WorldSBK.

HOPING TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING: Vickers and Mackenzie head to France after strong Balaton Park speed

Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) and Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) head into the French Round after taking their best WorldSBK results last time out, aiming to continue that form. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) will look to add to his points tally, as will teammate Michael Rinaldi, while Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) and teammate Zaqhwan Zaidi will also look to score points.

credit: WorldSBK