After almost a month's stop the World SBK came roaring back for the fifth round of the championship. At the Misano World Circuit the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WSBK Team showed up aware of being able to obtain good results in the wake of what was done in Barcelona and with the memory of last season, when Toprak Razgatlioglu won the Superpole Race in Emilia-Romagna.
Already in free practice Toprak proved to be fast and competitive for a top fight, confirming the sensations he had in the tests already done at the Santamonica circuit. The first time of 1.34.154 in the first free practice session and fifth in the second left room for positivity for the continuation of the weekend. Andrea Locatelli struggled a bit more, especially in the afternoon when he finished 14th in FP2.
In Saturday's official practice session Toprak tried to contend for pole position, but had to surrender by just 165 thousandths. However, he took the front row and the second position on the grid. Loka was unable to go below the 1.34 time and finished 11th on the fourth row.
The 2021 World Champion, who will be leaving Yamaha at the end of the season, started the afternoon's Race 1 on a high note, ready to do battle for victory. The Turk got off to a good start, but the two Aruba Racing Ducatis got away and despite attempts to stay on their wheel, Toprak had to settle for third place overall. Locatelli, on the other hand, finished 12th due to a lack of feeling with the rear wheel caused by a lack of grip.
On Sunday, in front of the large crowd that had come to see the spectacle of the production derivatives, Razgatlioglu and Locatelli tried to finish the weekend to the best of their ability. The Turkish rider made a great start in the short race in the morning and took the lead after just a few corners. Toprak tried to impose his pace, knowing that this was the only way he could try to beat his rivals. His tactics worked very well, managing to respond blow by blow to Alvaro Bautista's attacks. Unfortunately, however, his fight for the win was interrupted by a red flag, three laps from the end, for an incident between Petrucci and Lecuona. Race over and second place for the No. 54 and his R1, who showed his sorrow for a possible blown victory. Locatelli was unable to improve on what he had achieved the day before and finished 11th.
In Race 2 Toprak got off to another good start, moving ahead of everyone. After being overtaken by Bautista, a close fight began with Rinaldi for second place. The fall of the Italian rider then secured Razgatlioglu the podium and the silver medal, to close a weekend that was satisfactory overall, but not enough for the ambitions of the team and the rider. Locatelli, on the other hand, who was clearly on the upswing, finished 6th, close to the top five.