2022 World Superbike Estoril, Portugal - Superpole Results

Jonathan Rea has brought an end to Toprak Razgatlioglu's dominance in World Superbike qualifying after securing pole in Estoril by just +0.091s from the world champion. 

While conditions remained overcast for the start of Superpole, Jonathan Rea set the fastest lap of the weekend on just his first time attack. 

Rea set a time of 1:36.030s which was two tenths faster than Razgatlioglu’s FP3 time, and also the reigning World Superbike champion’s first effort of Superpole. 

After attempting to go quicker on his second lap, Rea struggled for grip in sector three before electing to return to pit lane. 

Razgatlioglu had no such issues as he instead improved to go within +0.080s of the Kawasaki rider. 

After positioning himself behind Rea, Honda rider Iker Lecuona made the most of it by going third fastest. 

In fact, Lecuona had the quickest first sector before a new lap record from Rea meant he was fastest in every sector. 

A time of 1:35.346s was set by the Kawasaki rider - half a second under the existing lap record. 

While Loris Baz suffered a crash at turn nine, Razgatlioglu began his final lap by going even quicker than Rea in sector one. However, the Pata Yamaha rider lost time in sector four as Rea held on to pole by just +0.091s.

Scott Redding and BMW's improved form continued as the 2020 runner-up claimed fourth, his best qualifying for the German manufacturer. 

Estoril WorldSBK Records

Fastest Lap - Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team 1:35.876s (2021)

Race Lap Record - Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha 1:36.594s (2020) 

2021 Winners 

Race One - Scott Redding GBR Aruba.it Ducati 

Superpole Race - Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team 

Race Two - Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team 

Razgatlioglu delivers again as he tops World Superbike FP3 at Estoril

As was the case during Friday’s FP2, Rea showed immediate pace as he went a second clear of anyone. 

That margin remained stable over the next few laps before Scott Redding reduced the Kawasaki rider’s lead to nine tenths. 

Rea’s 1m 37s flat was then bettered by the six-time world champion as he set an impressive time of 1:36.760s. 

Alvaro Bautista, winner of three races so far this season, reduced Rea’s lead to just under four tenths, while Razgatlioglu remained off the pace in seventh. 

Rea, who was clearly enjoying the cooler conditions of FP3, went quicker than his day-one effort after setting a time of 1:36.571s. Rea wasn’t alone in improving on his personal best lap as team-mate Alex Lowes did the same to go fourth quickest. 

After a brief return to pit lane, Razgatlioglu found incredible pace as he went quickest by just under a tenth from Rea.

Able to set mid 1m 36s at will, Razgatlioglu improved again in what was quickly becoming a repeat of Friday’s running. 

A 1:36.465s was then turned into a time of 1:36.222s by Razgatlioglu, which was a new fastest lap of the weekend to that point.  

Unable to replicate his stunning pace on day-one, Garrett Gerloff suffered a big fall at the final corner. The American was pushing the limits of his R1 before a big highside which left the former MotoAmerica rider winded. 

The top five remained unchanged through to the checkered flag, while a late effort from Iker Lecuona saw the Honda rider move into P7.

Estoril WorldSBK Weekend Schedule

Saturday 

14:00 WorldSBK Race 1 

Sunday 

09:00-09:15 WorldSBK Warm-up

11:00 WorldSBK Superpole Race 

14:00 WorldSBK Race 2