Bautista closed a dream weekend in Australia with an exhibition

Three out of three. Álvaro Bautista (Ducati) signed an impressive plenary session this Sunday at Phillip Island. In a round weekend, the Spanish driver dominated Race 2 and started the championship as the clear leader.

This time it was Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Ducati) who took second place, while Andrea Locatelli completed the podium.

The Ducati duo took advantage of their privileged position on the grid after a one-two finish signed in the sprint race to take the lead. when the traffic lights went out. The third rider on the front row, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) started to deteriorate and lost some positions in the opening minutes, while Andrea Locatelli and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) were in the leading group. Also Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) made rapid progress after starting on the third row of the grid.

By the midway point of the test, Bautista had gained an advantage of about three seconds over Rinaldiwhile Locatelli also settled in third place, although a bit further.

The battle was in the chasing group, with Lowes, Rea, Bassani and Razgatlioglu fighting it out with a knife in their mouths for fourth position, with Phillip Oettl (Team GoEleven) pushing his pace to join in the foursome. However, the field broke dramatically with six laps remaining when Lowes lost control of his ZX-10RR at Turn 4, joining Razgatlioglu, who was unable to avoid the English rider’s mount.

There were no changes in the podium positions, but the closing stages of the race saw more changes in the chasing pack.. Oettl overtook a Rea who was clearly struggling to keep pace and moved into fifth position, behind Bassani. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) also managed to pass the six-time Kawasaki champion with two laps to go.

An unstoppable Bautista all weekend, dry or wet, he crossed the finish line six seconds ahead of Rinaldi. to claim the victory, his third of the weekend and the eighth of his WorldSBK career, a new record for wins for a rider at this stage.

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The talaverano also signed his fifth ‘hat trick’, the second in Australia after the one achieved in 2019an unprecedented victory until this Sunday among WorldSBK riders.

Iker Lecuona had various battles throughout the 22 laps, starting first with the preliminary duel with the official Kawasaki and later with Bassani, with whom he collided on lap 10 when they were fighting for eighth place.

The Valencian improved in the final third of the race and crossed into sixth positionahead of rookie Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team).

Australian GP

Race 2

1. Alvaro Bautista (Ducati)
2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Ducati) +6.191s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) +9.099s
4. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +11.680s
5. Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) +12.020s
6. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +13.701s

fast lap: Alvaro Bautista, Ducati – 1.29.584s

superbike

Championship ranking

1. Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) 62 points
2. Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) 34
3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 31
4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Ducati) 31
5. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa racing) 25
6. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) 23