WSBK Superbike Phillip Island Superpole Race: Álvaro Bautista, from start to finish…

After free practice having dispersed the members of the Titanic Trio in the provisional rankings, the qualifying Superpole brought together two at the top of the table before the usual reunion during the Race 1. So, despite the hot, very hot, the short showers then a soggy Phillip Island circuit track, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Jonathan Rhea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) had little to do with each other before getting onto the Australian podium in a red-green-blue order.

However, there are many of them who have not done anything wrong, starting with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) in FP1, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Philipp Öttl (Team GoEleven) in FP2,  Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in FP3 or Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in Superpole, but the southern rain was able to calm their desires, leaving only the famous trio to emerge from the waters.

The 15-minute warmup still saw a few drops of rain but ultimately this had no impact on the times, the fastest of which was achieved by Alvaro Bautista before Toprak Razgatlioğyou.
It promises…

Warmup ranking: 

 

The 10-lap Superpole race takes place in light sunshine with temperatures of 20° in the air and 29° on the ground, with the usual wind at 16 kph but a dry track. For now.

We recall the starting grid determined in Super poles :

 

When the reds fade… Alvaro Bautista once again take advantage of the power of his Ducati to get the best of Toprak Razgatlioğlu.

 

 

Jonathan Rhea is in 3rd position but is attacked by Dominique Aegerter which widens, which penalizes both drivers.

 

 

In the 2st round, Alvaro Bautista leads ahead alex lowes, Toprak Razgatlioğlu , Dominique Aegerter, Michael Ruben Rinaldi et Remy gardner. Jonathan Rhea is 9th.

Alvaro Bautista begins to escape as Michael Ruben Rinaldi goes 2th.

 

 

In the 4th round, Toprak Razgatlioğlu takes the best of alex lowes and finds himself 3rd.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) returns to the box.

Halfway through the race, a big fall puts you down Remy gardner et Dominique Aegerter ! The ex-MotoGP rider braked too late and hit the ex-Moto2 rider… Fortunately, both men were unhurt, even if eliminated (Gardner restarted for a few meters, in vain).

 

 

Tom Sykes comes out of his box.

The second part of the race actually sees the rise ofAndrea Locatelli but, despite his attacks, the Yamaha rider stumbles upon the Kawasaki ofalex lowes.

Alvaro Bautista wins with more than 2 seconds ahead of his teammate. Everything is going well at Ducati!

 

 

In the championship, Alvaro Bautista has 37 points, Jonathan Rhea 23, Toprak Razgatlioğlu 23 and Andrea Locatelli 18.

 

WSBK Superbike Phillip Island Superpole Course: classification

Credit rankings: WorldSBK.com