Everything will be decided in Jerez in less than a week's time, when the Superbike, SuperSport, Women's and SuperSport300 titles will be awarded. Toprak has already begun the preparations and we are convinced that Bulega will somehow try to gatecrash the party. Usually these are the ones who then eventually have the most fun, although this time we are convinced it will not be the case.
On the other hand, there are those who, like Alvaro Bautista, have already made it known that they will not move from home because we are of the opinion that they may feel out of place, even more so by showing up in a red suit at a party where the required colors are black, white and blue.
This is what emerged from Estoril ahead of the grand finale at Jerez.
THE GOOD - Saying that Toprak is one step away from the SBK title, as well as Huertas who is a whisker away from the SSP one, would be a foregone conclusion, and so we prefer to mention the names of Danilo Petrucci and Stefano Manzi. In Portugal, Petrux even celebrated twice with the independent rider and team version of the title, giving Barni a memorable season. In the intermediate category, however, Stefano took the Yamaha R1 back to the top step, still keeping the fight for the world title open.
THE BAD - On Saturday he crashed, on Sunday he even ended up squiring for his teammate. We are of the opinion that Alvaro Bautista is looking forward to turning the page of this 2024 season, looking forward to the one on its way. At Toprak's party in Jerez we are convinced that he will not want to join in, preferring to stay at home devoting himself to something else.
THE UGLY - Andrea Locatelli put his heart into it and maybe a little more. Too bad that to keep up with the competition it is necessary to go over the limit with the risk of ending up on the ground. He knows something about this in Race 1 and Race 2, where twice he threw away the chance to fight for the podium, having to lick his wounds.
DISAPPOINTMENT - The risk is that the last image of this season may be of him in the gravel throwing punches at the ground in anger. It was a weekend to forget at Estoril for Remy Gardner, who crashed, complete with a wrist fracture. We expect him back on the R1 soon, wishing him a speedy recovery.
CONFIRMATION - If this title is still to be awarded we have Nicolò Bulega to thank in part. The Aruba rider has made consistency his secret weapon, revealing himself to be Toprak's direct rival in all respects in Portugal as well. The points from the top are 46, so bringing home the title will be impossible, but perhaps he has already won his Championship.
MISTAKE - It only took a split second to go from the dream of reopening everything to the nightmare of shutting it all down. Yari Montella's world championship chase ended in Race 2 at Estoril with 10 laps to go. A crash that weighed like a boulder and cut him out of the title race for good. As a punishment: a walking trip to Jerez.
SURPRISE - Honda has made giant strides and Iker Lecuona is confirmation of that. Saturday's podium in Race 1 is recognition for what the Spaniard has had to deal with over the past two seasons. Hopefully, this result can serve as a springboard for 2025.
OVERTAKE - Two years ago he was screwed by Bautista, this time by Bulega instead. Apparently that last corner seems a bit indigestible for Toprak.
CURIOSITY - Bulega beat Toprak by only 3 thousandths of a second. It had never happened in the history of SBK for a rider to win with such a small margin.
I TOLD YOU SO - Petrucci on Friday: "I think it's a bit hard to win the independent title, I need 15 points." Don't worry Danilo, just 1 was enough.