WSBK Superbike Indonésie Course Superpole : Doublé Yamaha, erreur de Bautista et Loris Baz “prend son pied” !

Four out of four, such is the very succinct assessment thatAlvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) could state at the end of the race 1 of the Motul Indonesian Round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship on the international street circuit of Pertamina Mandalika, in Indonesia!

But unlike the clashes in Australia, the official Ducati rider had to fight for this fourth consecutive victory of the 2023 season, after having made a risky bet starting with the softest tires despite the length of the race.

What will happen during this Superpole race where, for sure, the Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Xavi Verge (Team HRC), Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), Jonathan Rhea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), alex lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) and others Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), Philipp Ottl (Team GoEleven), Garrett gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), will set off with the same tire, just like the impetuous Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) or the deranged Remy gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team)?

This morning, in the 15 minute warmup, the two official Ducati riders fell without seriousness, and even if Alvaro Bautista still managed to set the best time afterwards, which shows that nothing is ever written in advance...

With a completely clear sky and temperatures of 31° in the air and 43° on the ground, the conditions are similar to those of the previous two days, for this Superpole race which will be played out over 10 laps.

 

 

The starting grid presents a first row composed of Toprak Razgatlioğlu, Andrea Locatelli et Alvaro Bautista, before Michael Rinaldi, Jonathan Rhea et Loris Baz.

When the red lights go out, Toprak Razgatlioğlu maintains the advantage ahead Álvaro Bautista.

 

 

alex lowes send Loris Baz down in the first round

 

 

In the next passage, it is Jonathan Rhea who makes a mistake in exactly the same place while his teammate's bike is still in the gravel! The race is stopped at red flags.

 

 

The race will restart for 8 laps and it is a race against time that begins at Kawasaki…

 

 

We clean up traces of oil on the track, which takes some time. After about half an hour, we start the quick start procedure with the same grid as before.

At the second start, both Kawasakis are present on the grid. At the start of the warm-up lap, Jonathan Rhea experiences a problem, raises his hand and rushes last. He can nevertheless return to his place on the grid.

When the red lights go out, Alvaro Bautista this time takes the advantage but is passed again at the exit of the first turn. Michael Rinaldi is off to a good start, just like Jonathan Rhea, respectively 3rd and 4th. The latter attacks before the end of the first lap and takes third position.

 

 

alex lowes rolls on the foot of Loris Baz : We don't yet know the severity of the Frenchman's injury, but these two are probably not going on vacation together!

 

 

In mind, we always have Toprak Razgatlioğlu before Alvaro Bautista, Jonathan Rhea, Andrea Locatelli, Michael Rinaldi, Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani.

The first three begin to escape, in their usual role as headliners, but five laps from the checkered flag, Alvaro Bautista first goes through Jonathan Rhea . The Kawasaki rider is really at the limit and loses the rear of his ZX-10RR a little. Coincidence or not, Alvaro Bautista experiences a violent highside on the dusty part of the track at exactly the same time.

 

 

After the halfway point, the 2021 world champion is 1,7 seconds ahead of his teammate Andrea Locatelli with who alex lowes, have exceeded Jonathan Rhea.

Things remain there.

 

 

Superpole race ranking WSBK Superbike in Mandalika: 

Classification credit: WorldSBK.com