The Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team, with Rizla, scored a pair of FIM Superbike World Championship podium finishes on Sunday in Jerez, with Toprak Razgatlıoğlu bouncing back from retirement in the Tissot Superpole Race to finish an incredible third in Race 2, while Michael van der Mark had previously made it onto the rostrum in the 10-lap sprint.
Starting fifth for the Superpole Race, Razgatlıoğlu starred on the opening lap and slid his way through to second by Turn 2. As the race settled in, he came under pressure from Scott Redding, but displayed a masterclass in defensive riding, out-braking the Ducati rider on several occasions to maintain second place. However, his efforts were thwarted with just three laps to go following a sensor failure, which saw him retire from the race.
In Race 2, and starting from 10th on the grid due to the Superpole Race DNF, Razgatlıoğlu made another lightning start and sliced his way into the top four by the end of the first lap. The Pata Yamaha rider continued to put pressure on those ahead and battled with Jonathan Rea for the final spot on the podium. By the eighth lap, Razgatlıoğlu made his move inside the top three, which he held until the chequered flag for his fourth podium of the 2020 season.
Needing a strong haul of points following Saturday’s retirement, Van der Mark made a solid start in the Superpole Race to hold onto fourth place. The Dutchman remained within touching distance of the podium paces, benefiting from his teammate’s issue to take his first rostrum of the season. In Race 2, the rising track temperatures saw Van der Mark struggle with grip, eventually finishing just behind Rea in seventh, scoring more important points.
After a difficult return to racing on Saturday, the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team enjoyed their strongest WorldSBK showing yet, with American Garrett Gerloff riding a sublime Superpole Race, climbing from 15th on the grid to finish eighth in only his third championship start. The former MotoAmerica Superbike star impressed again in Race 2, battling some of the series’ most experienced riders to take the chequered flag in 10th.
Teammate Federico Caricasulo bounced back from yesterday’s Race 1 retirement to take a pair of 16th place finishes, with his lack of long run experience in the soaring track temperatures at Jerez meaning the Italian just missed out on points.
Ten Kate Yamaha WorldSBK Supported Team’s Loris Baz equalled his best result with Yamaha, finishing just off the podium in fourth during the Superpole Race. In the final race at Jerez, the French rider was running amongst the leading group in sixth place, before sliding off into the gravel at Turn 13, dropping him out of points contention.
