WSBK: Misano figures hair-raising for Bautista, consoling for Yamaha and depressing for Kawasaki

The WSBK meeting in Misano delivers its final verdict with figures that confirm the domination of a Bautista rider with a Ducati, and not the other way around for those who are angry with the brand, while giving Yamaha something to worry about. console. At Kawasaki, on the other hand, it’s depression…

Misano was the fifth event out of the twelve listed on the calendar of a WSBK which continues to write its history. Important statistics were achieved and much more was achieved during this stage in Emilia-Romagna, honoring the reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista, but not only…

To Alvaro Bautista, we note that during FP3 and the Warm Up, he established a new speed record at Misano in WorldSBK with a 282,0km/h which beats Ayrton Badovini's 281,7km/h in Race 2 of 2012 with BMW. Furthermore, his hat-trick allows him to count 46 victories, which places him fourth in the ranking of the greatest winners of all time in WorldSBK. His next goal is the Top 3, with third place currently occupied by Troy Bayliss with 52 wins.

Bautista chases personal bests and Razgatlioglu improves Yamaha's fortunes

The fastest lap of Baptist in Race 2 was the 40e of his career, which places him fifth in the general ranking of drivers with the greatest number of fastest laps in a race. After his three victories at Misano, Bautista is at 14 success this season, three short of the record for wins in a season set by the 17 achievements of Doug Polen in 1991 and Jonathan Rea in 2018 and 2019. The 14 victories ofAlvaro Bautista in 2023 on 15 races contested so far, are a new record for the greatest number of victories in this period (15 races) at the start of the season.

For its part, Yamaha returns from Misano with satisfaction. In the Superpole Race, Toprak Razgatlioglu took second place and allowed the brand to rise on its 350th podium en World SBK. His second place in Race 2 means that Yamaha is now mounted on 351 podiums in the category. Yamaha is also mounted on 15 podiums during the 15 races of 2023, the best series in its history.

To Kawasaki, on the other hand, decadence is confirmed... For the first time since he joined Kawasaki, Jonathan Rhea failed to reach the podium at Misano, the circuit where he took his first career victory in 2009. It is also the first time since 2012 that Akashi's firm has failed to get on the podium on this circuit…