WorldSBK stars ready for a new challenge and a historic milestone
WorldSBK heads to new territory this weekend as the Championship makes its debut at Balaton Park, a brand-new track located near the iconic Lake Balaton in Hungary.
- Balaton Park becomes the 54th different venue to feature on the WorldSBK calendar.
- Hungary previously hosted six WorldSBK races between 1988 and 1990 at the Hungaroring.
- At the end of June, several WorldSBK riders had their first taste of Balaton Park during a track day. They rode standard production bikes rather than their usual race machines. Among them were: Razgatlioglu, Bautista, Sam and AlexLowes, Bulega, Bassani, Lecuona, and Vierge.
WorldSBK 1000
- The Tissot Superpole Race in Hungary will mark a historic milestone: the 1000th race in WorldSBK history.
- WorldSBK’s first-ever race took place in Donington Park at April 1988, a circuit which remains on the calendar to this day. Davide Tardozzi claimed victory in that inaugural race. Meanwhile, Fred Merkel entered the history books as the first-ever WorldSBK Champion. He secured the title later that year in Manfeild, New Zealand.
- Since then, WorldSBK has raced across the globe. 83 different riders have taken race wins, and 19 have been crowned WorldSBK Champion. From the inaugural champion Fred Merkel, to icons like Carl Fogarty, record-holder Jonathan Rea. It includes two-time Champion Alvaro Bautista and, most recently, the charismatic Toprak Razgatlioglu.
- Fittingly, Rea, Bautista and Razgatlioglu, the three WorldSBK Champions currently on the grid, are also the riders with the most WorldSBK race wins.
Championship Standings
- For the first time in 2025, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) leads the Championship standings. A dominant hat-trick at Donington Park has given him a four-point advantage over Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). This marks a major shift in the title race.
- Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) remains third overall with 209 points. He holds a 15-point margin over Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Both riders are still chasing a contract for the 2026 season.
- Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) is the leading Yamaha rider in the standings. He is just six points behind Bautista with 188 points.
2026 Grid Update
- The Barni Spark Racing Team has confirmed a contract extension with WorldSBK rookie Yari Montella the for the 2026 season.
Manzi holds firm as Balaton Park debuts on WorldSSP calendar
Championship Standings
- Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) maintain control of the standings with 244 points claimed so far in the 2025 season.
- Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) gained two points on Manzi after the UK Round. This narrowed the gap to 45 points.
- Two podium finishes at Donington Park saw Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) move up to third in the standings with 182 points. He is just 17 behind Oncu.
- Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) and Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) complete the top five.
New Track
- With Balaton Park debuting as a new venue for WorldSSP, some riders took advantage of a recent track day. They aimed to get familiar with the layout. This included Federico Caricasulo, Philipp Oettl, and others.