Toprak Razgatlioglu takes second in Aragon comeback race after crash

ALCANIZ, Spain (AA) - Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu secured second place on Saturday in the Aragon round of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship, marking a triumphant return after a crash earlier this month left his participation in doubt.

Razgatlioglu, 27, collided with a safety barrier on Sept. 6 during the free practice session at the French Magny-Cours circuit, casting uncertainty over his ability to race in Spain. His team principal at ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK, Shaun Muir, had warned of a "50-50" chance of him competing.

The race, held at the MotorLand Aragón circuit, saw two restarts after British rider Sam Lowes crashed and Nicolo Bulega of Aruba.it Racing – Ducati suffered engine failure, forcing his withdrawal. Bulega is Razgatlioglu’s closest rival in the championship standings.

Despite never having won at Aragon, Razgatlioglu’s second-place finish boosted his points total to 385, extending his lead over Bulega by 33 points in the 2024 Superbike World Championship.

"We are back, but we need to tie it with a strong comeback. I don’t like normal comebacks," Razgatlioglu told Anadolu Agency on Friday. "When I go out on that track, I always fight for first place. I will do my best without giving up."

Razgatlioglu is set to compete in Sunday’s main race with the Tissot Superpole, aiming to strengthen his hold on the championship with just two rounds remaining.