Toprak Razgatlioglu has won a drama-filled opening🐻 World Superbike race at Portimao as Jonathan﷽ Rea crashed from the lead. 

After a gre𒆙at launch, Razgatlioglu ran slightly wide on the exit of turn one which allowed title rival Rea into the lead♕. 

However, Razgatlioglu responded into turn five as he went down the inside 🃏of the Kawasaki rider.

Lap two saw huge contact bไetween the pair as Razgatlioglu, who gave up the lead momentarily at turn 11 came back down the inside of the six-time champion which resulted in the Yamaha rider hitting the i♑nside of Rea. 

The fierce battle conti𓂃nued on laps three and four as more contact was made, which gave Scott Redding the opportunity෴ to slipstream both men into turn one and take a surprising lead. 

Razgatlioglu and Rea were not done exchanging places as moves from th𒁃e latter came at turn 11 and 13. 

The last of those seemed to be Rea’💖s clearest chance to stay ahead for several corners and therefore attack Redding for the lead.

That's exactly what happened as Rea got past Redding at the same turn 13 on lap seven, however, the championship picture then took another incredible twist as Rea crashed at the final corner⭕. 

It was a massive crash for the 34 year-old who was thankfully able 💎to get back on his feet✨. 

Out front, Redding led for another five laps before Razgatlioglu made a brilliant move into turn one to regain what could be the most pivotal race lead of thiꦗs season.

Razgatlioglu managed to put five tenths between him and Redding’s Ducati, while an enthr𒉰alling battle for🍨 the final podium spot saw Alvaro Bautista lead Loris Baz, Michael Van Der Mark, Andrea Locatelli and Leon Haslam with 8 laps to go.

With just six laps to go, Baz gained third spot thanks to a lat🔯e move into turn one on Bautista, while Locatelli clipped the back of ꦐVan Der Mark which led to both riders crashing. 

Just as Razgatlioglu looked to have pulled clear, Redding closed in on th🍎e Yamaha man as he seemed to ha📖ve more rear tyre left. 

Redding came over the line in front of the 24 year-old with five to go, however, Razgatlioglu out-braked Redding 🐽to stay in front. 

The same move from Redding came at th🐓e beginnin♏g of lap 19, but Razgatlioglu once again got past on the brakes. 

Redding finally made the move stick into turn one at the start of the penultimate lap, but Ra🍒zgatlioglu performed a great switch-back going towards turn two to come out ahead. 

Razgatlioglu held off Redding during the final lap to claim his 11th win of the seaso♏n and create a 45 points gap between him and Rea. 

Baz mꦡanaged to beat Bautista for third as the Spaniard crashed at the final corner, while Michael Rinaldi came home in fourth.