Toprak Razgatlioglu, a three-time world champion, was not surprised by Nicolo Brega’s strong challenge for the 2025 World Superbike (SBK) title. The championship battle between Razgatlioglu and Brega went down to the last race of the season for the first time since 2014. Both riders won nearly every race in 2025, except for one at Assen Race 2, which was taken by Andrea Locatelli.
After Razgatlioglu’s overwhelming dominance in 2024, when he claimed the title despite missing six races, 2025 proved much tougher with Brega emerging as a clear contender. This season resembled the 2021 title fight between Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea, although their styles of competition differed. The points gap between Razgatlioglu and Brega in 2025 matched the 13-point margin between Razgatlioglu and Rea in 2021, but their season-long battles were distinct. While Razgatlioglu and Rea frequently exchanged leads during 2021, Razgatlioglu and Brega had only three closely fought races in 2025 at Portimao, Aragón, and Jerez, with one of those battles ending quickly.
Despite sharing dominance over the season, Razgatlioglu and Brega often alternated superiority on different tracks. Brega excelled at Phillip Island, Assen, Cremona, and Jerez, whereas Razgatlioglu was stronger at Misano, Donington, Most, Balaton, Magny-Cours, and Estoril. Together, they finished in the top two positions in 27 out of 36 races. Unlike in 2021, where other riders like Scott Redding and Michael Ruben Rinaldi challenged them, 2025 was largely a two-rider showdown.
The 2025 season marked Brega’s rise as a true challenger to Razgatlioglu’s reign, after the Turkish rider seemed nearly unbeatable in 2024. Razgatlioglu recognized Brega’s improvement and Ducati’s progress, calling him the “next world champion.” He noted that while they didn’t battle much in 2024, this year’s fierce competition pushed them every race weekend. Razgatlioglu also highlighted standout races they shared, like Portimao and Aragón, where they went head-to-head.
Fan Take: This intense rivalry between Razgatlioglu and Brega has reignited the thrill of the World Superbike Championship, promising even more exciting seasons ahead. For racing fans, this battle signals a new era of competition that could elevate the sport’s global popularity and showcase emerging talent at its best.
