Bautista is once again untouchable in Spain, winning every race. First victory for Sofuoğlu and a historic double for MV Agusta in WorldSSP. Gennai wins WorldSSP300.
After dominating Phillip Island and Assen, Alvaro Bautista
on Ducati once again takes a hat-trick in Barcelona, winning all three WorldSBK races scheduled for the weekend and taking his victory tally to 11 for the year from a total of 12 races contested.
It's a historic double for MV Agusta in WorldSSP and the first victory in this category for the Turkish driver
Bahattin Sofuoglu who finished ahead of his teammate Marcel Schrötter.
In WorldSSP300, Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) on Yamaha won his first race of the year, ahead of his compatriot Matteo Vannucci and Jeffrey Buis, winner of race 1.
Pirelli tires put in a strong performance, with drivers successfully using both standard and development solutions during the race.
Encouraging feedback on new solutions
« During this round, we continued the work started in Assen by comparing some solutions. In WorldSBK we have started to receive more information on the SCX B0800 development tire. Yesterday we saw that it has an extremely wide range of use because it adapts well to very different temperatures and to circuits like Assen and Montmeló. However, as already happened in Holland, we noticed that in the Superpole race the most popular choice was the standard range, probably because on the short distance it is still able to offer a little something more than the B0800. As for the WorldSSP, the riders who chose the 125/70 size yesterday confirmed it again today, which means they liked it. We will have to see if she will gain the confidence of other drivers in the next rounds. As for the race results, we saw another big showdown from Bautista and Ducati in WorldSBK. Congratulations also to young Sofuoğlu for his first WorldSSP victory. The next round will take place in Misano where we will celebrate an important event: our 20th anniversary as exclusive supplier to the Superbike Championship! »
– The choice of tires for the Superpole Race was more complicated than usual due to light rain which dampened the asphalt half an hour before the start. Some drivers did the reconnaissance lap on intermediate or wet tires, but once they saw that the track was almost completely dry, they all started on slicks. At the front, the most used solution was the standard SC1, but no less than 7 pilots opted for the SC0. At the rear, on the other hand, the standard SCX became the protagonist again, achieving more success than the B0800 development solution.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) won by setting the fastest lap on his second stint, ahead of Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK riders, Toprak Razgatlioğlu et Andrea Locatelli. No luck for Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who crashed on the last lap when the rain started to fall again.
– In race 2, the rear SCX-A solution (B0800 specifications) once again became the most used by the drivers. At the front, the standard SC2 is the most popular, although all Ducati riders wear the standard SC1.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) once again set the pace of the race, leading alone at the front and finishing first, once again with a gap of more than 8 seconds over his rivals. Toprak Razgatlioğlu snatched second place from Rinaldi on the straight, ruining what looked like an almost certain Ducati double. Bautista once again set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1'41.730.
– Race 2 took place with an asphalt temperature 12°C lower than that of race 1. This clearly had an impact on the drivers' choice of tires: in fact, the most used solution was the standard SC0, more protected against the cold. Note, however, that Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) took the podium with the rear SCX. As for choice of front, the most popular solution has been the standard SC1, but some riders have opted for the wider 125/70 version.
– Victory went to Bahattin Sofuoğlu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who, following in the footsteps of his uncle Kenan, won his first Supersport race. The Turkish driver finished ahead of his teammate Schrötter for an MV Agusta double which had not taken place since Phillip Island 2015. Behind them, in third position, Stefano manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha), while the pole sitter Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) was forced to retire. The Ducati rider still managed to complete the record lap of the race, during his ninth appearance on the circuit.
