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Nicolò Bulega tried to the very end, but the Emilian rider's determination was not enough to stop Toprak Razgatlioglu's triumphant march at Portimao. The BMW rider in fact scored his third win of the weekend at the end of another heated duel with the Ducati rider, in a race interrupted after 9 laps by the red flag caused by Jason O'Halloran's crash, the rider called to replace Jonathan Rea in this second round of the season.
Alvaro Bautista completed the podium, followed by a super Andrea Locatelli and Michael van der Mark. With a great recovery after a bad start, Danilo Petrucci managed to secure sixth position, crossing the finish line ahead of Axel Bassani, while Iker Lecuona, Dominique Aegerter and Yari Montella shared the positions from eighth to tenth.
It was a race to forget for Andrea Iannone. Sanctioned with a double Long Lap Penalty for an early start, the Vasto rider was given a Ride Through after the restart for not serving both of his two Long Laps in the five laps imposed, and then ended his race with a retirement. Also retired was Remy Gardner, who suffered a crash late in the race.
Race 2 standings.
Lap-by-lap updates
Checkered flag - Toprak makes it three out of three at Portimao: he wins Race 2 ahead of the Ducatis of Bulega and Bautista. At the foot of the podium Locatelli.
Last lap - Small smear by Bulega, who is half a second behind Toprak.
Lap 9 - Toprak resists the pressure from Bulega, who keeps in the slipstream of the Turk's BMW. Third is Bautista at over 1"5, with Locatelli fourth ahead of van der Mark. Gardner's crash in Turn 1 should be noted. Here is the situation with less than 2 laps to go:
Lap 8 - What a duel for victory in this Race 2! The two combatants almost come to contact in Turn 1, with Toprak getting the better of Bulega and retaking control up front.
Lap 7 - The head-to-head battle between the Turk and the Emilian rider continues: at the moment it is Toprak who gets the upper hand, but Bulega stays in his slipstream waiting to launch an attack on the straight.
Lap 6 - Toprak attempts a lunge in Turn 13, but Bulega's response is not long in coming, getting back in front by taking advantage of his V4's acceleration on the finishing straight.
Lap 5 - Bulega makes a mistake entering Turn 13, Toprak tries to take advantage, but Nicolò doesn't give up and imediately takes back the first position.
Lap 4 - Bulega fails to shake off Razgatlioglu, while Bautista loses ground and is already over 7 tenths behind. Meanwhile, Iannone retires.
Lap 3 - Bulega's reaction is not long in coming, slipping past Toprak before the first corner. Taking advantage of this duel is Bautista, glued to Toprak's BMW. Locatelli is not far behind either, studying the situation from fourth position. Van der Mark closes the top 5, followed by Lecuona, Petrucci, Bassani, Gardner and Aegerter.
Lap 2 - Toprak breaks the delay and immediately attacks Bulega, taking the first position.
Lap 1 - Toprak undermines Locatelli from second position and moves into Bulega's slipstream. Crash for Sam Lowes, while Iannone does the Ride Through.
They restart after the red flag! - Bulega retakes the lead ahead of Locatelli, who had an excellent start. Third Toprak, followed by Bautista and van der Mark, 8th Petrucci ahead of Iannone, who will have to serve a Ride Through, for not completing the two Long Laps in five laps.
15:34 - The warm-up lap starts.
15:33 - The grid is ready, with Bulega in pole, flanked by Toprak and Bautista.
15:31 - Moments of excitement outside the Go Eleven box, where the team is trying to figure out whether or not Andrea Iannone will have to serve the second of the two Long Lap Penalty imposed on him for an early start.
15:30 - The green flag waves: everyone on track for an 11-lap Sprint race.
15:28 - Less than three minutes to the reopening of the pit lane, which will be at 14:30 Portuguese time, 15:30 in Italy.
15:26 - Meanwhile, here are pictures of Jason O'Halloran's crash:
Video
15:22 - While the condition of the air fence in Turn 1 is being checked, it remains to be announced what time the race will restart to tackle the remaining 11 laps of the race.
Red Flag - The race is stopped to restore proper track conditions after the Australian crashed in Turn 1.
Video
Lap 9 - A weekend to forget for Redding, who brings the MGM Bonovo Action team Ducati back to the pits. O'Halloran's race also ends here as he has a crash.
Lap 8 - Razgatlioglu does not give up the tail of Bulega's Panigale, leading the race by a margin of about four tenths. The leading pair is making a difference in this early part of the race, so much so that Bautista is already four seconds behind.
Lap 7 - Lecuona overtakes Gardner and moves up to sixth, while Toprak continues to maintain Bulega's slipstream at the front of the race.
Lap 6 - Bulega continues to make the pace taking Toprak behind, third Bautista over 3" behind. Locatelli follows, with van der Mark completing the Top 5.
Lap 5 - Bautista continues to lose ground from the leading pair, which sees Toprak less than half a second behind leader Bulega.
Lap 4 - Fast lap by Razgatlioglu, who gains a tenth on Bulega. Bautista loses ground, distant 2 seconds from the top 2, while Iannone occupies 14th position after serving the Long Lap. Of note are the crashes of Vierge and Rabat.
Lap 3 - Bulega continues to push at the front of the race, while a double Long Lap Penalty comes for Iannone for a jump start.
Lap 2 - Fast lap by Bulega, who again increases his lead over Toprak, now about half a second behind.
Lap 1 - Bulega picks up a few meters on Toprak, who finds himself tailed by Bautista's Ducati. Fourth Locatelli, followed by van der Mark, Gardner, Vierge and Iannone, with Lecuona and Bassani completing the Top 10. Great recovery by Petrucci, who overtakes his teammate Montella and moves into the top 10.
Start - Bulega immediately takes the lead, followed by Toprak, Bautista, Locatelli, van der Mark and Gardner. Some problems for Petrucci, who now occupies 17th place.
14:58 - The Warm-Up lap now starts, anticipating the 20 laps of this Race 2.
14:57 - Here is the full grid for Race 2:
14:56 - It's going to be an uphill race, however, for Andrea Iannone, on the fifth row with Axel Bassani and Scott Redding.
14:55 - Second row also for Andrea Locatelli, the big surprise of this weekend.
14:53 - Looking for some concentration Danilo Petrucci, who will try to get on the podium starting from fourth place on the grid.
14:51 - Not to be underestimated either is Alvaro Bautista, who completes the front row thanks to his fine performance this morning.
14:49 - However, the Turkish rider will have to watch his back from the leader of the championship standings, Nicolò Bulega, who is ready to take his revenge by starting from the second row of the grid.
14:47 - Already the winner of Race 1 and this morning's Superpole Race, Razgatlioglu is aiming for a trio of wins by starting from pole position.
14:45 - With 15 minutes to go, the pit lane opens in Portimao: World Superbike riders take their places on the grid for this last race of the weekend.
14:44 - Welcome to our live coverage of Race 2!
At 2pm local time, 3pm in Italy, the last race of the weekend in Portimao will be held. A Race 2 that promises to be another heated head-to-head between Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolò Bulega, absolute protagonists of this Round at the Algarve.
The BMW rider will go in search of a hat trick by once again taking off from pole position, with the Emilian lined up alongside him and ready to get in his way. Eyes will also be on Alvaro Bautista, who completes the front row followed by Danilo Petrucci, Andrea Locatelli and Sam Lowes.
Behind them will start Michael van der Mark and the Hondas of Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona, while Yari Montella and Andrea Iannone will try to climb from 12th and 13th on the grid, with Axel Bassani and Scott Redding completing the fifth row.
