Ducati factory rider Alvaro Bautista also won the final race at the Superbike World Championship. In the second main race, Bautista celebrated his eleventh win of the season in the twelfth race.
The defending champion thus further extended its lead in the championship. The podium was completed by Yamaha rider Toprak Razgatlioglu and Ducati rider Michael Rinaldi.
Alvaro Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) formed the front row for Sunday’s race. Dominique Aegerter (GRT-Yamaha) was sixth on the grid, Philipp Öttl (GoEleven-Ducati) started the race from 15th position. Immediately before the start it was drizzling in all sectors. Nevertheless, the field relied on slick tires as a whole.
Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu takes the lead
Bautista again won the sprint to the first corner, although Razgatlioglu got off much better in the first few meters. The Ducati with starting number 1 led the field of 22 riders through the first corners.
Razgatlioglu got aggressive on the first lap and pushed himself into the lead at Turn 5. Bautista and Ducati teammate Rinaldi effortlessly passed the Yamaha down the straight and led the field into the second lap.
For ex-world champion Tom Sykes (Puccetti-Kawasaki) and Hafizh Syahrin (MIE-Honda), the race was over shortly after the start. Syahrin had to be treated in the gravel but the race continued.
Michael Rinaldi uses the top speed advantage of his Ducati
Kawasaki rider Alex Lowes prevailed with determined maneuvers against Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael Rinaldi and meanwhile took second place. Alvaro Bautista used his opponents’ duels to break away at the top.
Michael Rinaldi took over second position at the start of lap five. On the straight, the Italian effortlessly passed Alex Lowes’ Kawasaki on his Ducati and immediately pulled away slightly.
After five laps, Alvaro Bautista was already 1.4 seconds ahead. Behind him, Michael Rinaldi was second. Alex Lowes led the chasing group, which also included Toprak Razgatlioglu, Andrea Locatelli and Jonathan Rea. At the start of lap seven, Razgatlioglu outbraked Lowes and took third position.
Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi do their laps alone
Halfway through the race, Bautista was 2.7 seconds ahead of Ducati teammate Rinaldi, who was lonely in second position. The chasing group was already 5.7 seconds behind. Razgatlioglu couldn’t break away from Lowes and the other drivers.
The chasing group has meanwhile grown to nine riders. The two factory Hondas driven by Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona, Dominique Aegerter, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo-BMW) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni-Ducati) were also involved in the battle for third place.
At the beginning of the final third of the race, the group pulled apart again. Razgatlioglu and Lowes clearly separated. Rea passed Locatelli on lap 14 to take fifth position. Behind them, Aegerter arranged the two factory Hondas of Lecuona and Vierge.
Toprak Razgatlioglu prevents Ducati double victory
Positions were taken at the top. At least it looked like it. Bautista celebrated his 11th win in 12 races and rounded off a perfect weekend with another win.
Team-mate Rinaldi was on course for second place, but slowed down significantly in the closing stages. On the last lap, Rinaldi was surprised by Razgatlioglu, who took second place at the last corner.
The two factory Kawasakis dueled in the final laps for fourth place. Lowes got the better of Rea to finish fourth. Behind them there was a duel between Locatelli and Vierge for sixth place. On the last lap, Vierge passed and gave Honda a top six result.
Dominique Aegerter in the top 8, Philipp Öttl on P14
Aegerter finished the race in eighth place. Lecuona and Gerloff completed the top 10. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa-Ducati) couldn’t get past P11. The final points went to Danilo Petrucci, Remy Gardner (GRT-Yamaha), Philipp Öttl and Bradley Ray (Motoxracing-Yamaha).
BMW works driver Scott Redding retired from the race five laps before the end. The Brit was on course for 15th place. Of the four BMW drivers, only Gerloff made it into the points.
The WSBK season 2023 will continue in four weeks in Misano (Italy).