The two riders of the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Racing Team arrived in Catalunya optimistic about continuing the good work done at Assen two weeks earlier, in order to consolidate the performance obtained in Holland.
On Friday the focus was on finding the right set-up on the Catalan track, on which Toprak Razgatlioglu has never been comfortable. The same work was done by Andre Locatelli to maintain the good rhythm shown since the beginning of the season and that is allowing him to be stable on the podium or in the Top Five.
On Saturday Toprak and Loca prepared for the morning qualifying session to determine the starting grid for Race 1. In the search for the fastest lap the two official R1s showed some difficulties, which did not allow the two riders to put together the perfect lap. Razgatlioglu closed 8th, 8 tenths from Pole, earning the third row, while Locatelli managed to snatch the 10th time, thus opening the fourth.
In Race 1 both the Turk and the Italian were protagonists of an incredible comeback that saw them climb the classification opponent after opponent and finish in the top five. In the second restart of the race, interrupted after a few laps by a red flag due to the fall of Eric Granado, Razgatlioglu and Locatelli showed a solid and consistent pace, which allowed the 2021 World Champion to finish 2nd and earn his first podium of the weekend and his team-mate to finish 4th a few seconds behind the third position.
On Sunday the programme followed its regular course with the Superpole Race in the morning and Race 2 in the afternoon to close the Spanish weekend. In the short race, which establishes the grid for the last race, Toprak confirmed the good feeling from the previous day and also the position. The rider with the number 54 again finished 2nd behind Bautista. Locatelli also was author of an excellent race. He finished 3rd, completing a double Yamaha podium. In Race 2 the Italian rider struggled more due to a technical problem that limited his performance and did not allow him to fight for the Top-5, finishing 7th. Razgatlioglu, on the other hand, put on a spectacular show in a heated battle with Jonathan Rea before the Englishman crashed and before recovering on Michael Rinaldi to overtake him for the 2nd place at the photofinish.
The two Yamaha riders thus confirm themselves as Bautista's first runners-up in the world championship standings, with Toprak second with 167 points and Locatelli third with 133.
The next appointment is the fifth round of the season in Misano Adriatico at the Marco Simoncelli World Circuit.