WSBK Superbike Australia Superpole Race: Alex Lowes gains ground! Andrea Iannone intriguing…

Here, Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) achieved a remarkable feat by winning Race 1 at Phillip Island on his debut in World SBK Superbike, becoming the first rider to accomplish this feat since Alvaro Bautista in 2019, in a race also marked by the resounding return ofAndrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) after four years of absence.

Add to that a Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) receiving a penalty for a pit time infraction, which dropped him to fifth place, along with a defending champion Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) falling before finishing 15th, and without even mentioning the difficulties encountered by Jonathan Rhea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), we can easily understand the Superbike enthusiasts who are impatiently awaiting the Superpole race, the second chapter of the 2024 season of motorcycles derived from the series.

The sun is shining when the 22 drivers line up on the grid, with wind of course but 270 in the air and 38° on the ground.
The grid is the same as for race 1: Nicolo Bulega, Andrea Iannone and Alex Lowes composing the first line.

When the red lights go out, Andrea Iannone take the lead alex lowes, Nicolo Bulega et Toprak Razgatlioglu for a 10 lap sprint.

In the 2th round, alex lowes takes command, Toprak Razgatlioglu goes 3rd. The 3 men create a very small hole on the premises Remy gardner, quickly filled.

In the next passage, Andrea Iannone regains leadership in the straight line and Toprak Razgatlioglu tries to go 2nd but ultimately concedes a position to Remy gardner. He will take it back then lose it and take it back again...

Alvaro Bautista is 5th, Jonathan Rea 11th.

Halfway through the race, alex lowes goes to the front and Andrea Iannone loses his footing by suddenly conceding 9 positions! He must have a problem...

Toprak Razgatlioglu et Remy Gardner gnawing at each other, alex lowes take the opportunity to take a second lead, the peloton to stick to the coattails.

Andrea Locatelli does not lose the opportunity to pass the two hot drivers and takes 2nd place, Alvaro Bautista of the 4th.

With 2 laps to go, victory seems certain for alex lowes.

Alvaro Bautista achieves the best lap in the race and gets stuck in the wheel Toprak Razgatlioglu. Despite the pressure put on him on the last lap, the two drivers will cross the line in this order.

Congratulations from Sam Lowes...

In the championship, Nicholas Bulega retains the advantage for 1 point on Andrea Locatelli.

Race 2 Supersport at 4:30 a.m., race 2 Superbike at 6:00 a.m.

Results of the Superbike Superpole race at Phillip Island:

Credit rankings: Worldsbk.com