WorldSBK: Estoril Round: Who was where

May 23, 2022 May 22, 2022

World Superbikes returned to Portugal at Estoril. Many predicted that we would see a Bautista, Rea and Razgatlioglu battle again. But could other riders and manufacturers get involved at the third round of the 2022 season.

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati:

Alvaro Bautista:

The Spaniard started his weekend off well with a third place qualifying in the superpole session. Which was then backed up on Saturdays race one as he claimed victory for the fourth time this season. Bautista’s Ducati power was crucial as he blasted past a Yamaha on the final straight. Bautista started Sunday well with a third place finish in a damp Superpole race. Race two was a second place for Bautista as the Spaniard keeps his championship lead after the first Portuguese round of the season.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi:

Rinaldi qualified behind his teammate on the grid as he could only manage a sixth place start. However, the Italians first race on Saturday was not great as he went backwards to ninth in race one. The Superpole race was the same for Rinaldi as he dropped back into eighth place. Race two was a repeat of the previous two races as Rinaldi is getting out shined by his teammate.

Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK:

Jonathan Rea:

The six time champion started his weekend off amazingly as he qualified on pole position. However, race one was not the result Rea would have been searching for as he settled for third place. The Superpole race was a return to the top step for Rea as he beat Razgatlioglu on the final lap. Race 2 was a race win for Rea as he chases his seventh title in 2022.

Alex Lowes:

An eighth place qualifying for Lowes was not the start to the weekend that the Brit would have wanted. However, the Kawasaki rider made progress throughout the weekend of racing. In race one Lowes finished seventh and then the Superpole race saw him finish sixth place. Race two looked like a podium was possible for Lowes but he had to settle for fourth.

Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK:

Toprak Razgatlioglu:

The reigning champion started the weekend from second on the grid after a successful qualifying. Two last lap battles in 2022 saw Razgatlioglu finish second best in both of the races. Race two saw the Turkish rider finish 3rd which means he still has not won his first race of 2022.

Andrea Locatelli:

The young Italian qualified fifth on the grid and continued his good results. Locatelli finished fourth in race one after an early battle with Bautista. Then in the Superpole race it was a fifth place finish for Locatelli. Race two was another good result for Locatelli as he finished fifth.

Team HRC:

Iker Lecuona:

The young Spaniard continues to have an incredible rookie season in World Superbikes. Lecuona qualified seventh, finished sixth in race one and then fourth in the Superpole race. Race two was good for Lecuona as he finished sixth to round up a great weekend.

Xavi Vierge:

Another young Spanish rookie at Honda had a good weekend at Estoril. Vierge started 11th place after an average qualifying. He had a successful race one as he finished fifth place but then a DNF in the Superpole race was not the start to Sunday Vierge would have wanted. Race two was better for Vierge as he finished ninth.

BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team:

Scott Redding:

The lone factory BMW rider had an incredible qualifying as he started from fourth on the grid. The successful test in Portimao obviously helped on the one lap pace. However, the race pace stayed average for Redding as he finished eighth and seventh in race one and the Superpole race. Race two was average as well as the Brit finished 11th but this weekend was an improvement from last.

Motocorsa Racing:

Axel Bassani:

A poor 14th place qualifying was not the start to the weekend that the Italian wanted. However, a 12th and 10th finish in race one and the Superpole race was a decent turn around for the satellite Ducati man. Race two went even better as Bassani cracked the top ten and finished seventh.

Team Goeleven:

Xavi Fores:

The Spanish rider arrived as a last minute addition for the Team Goeleven Ducati squad. He may have been a late arrival but he was impressive. A 17th place qualifying was not an incredible start but an 11th place finish in race one was better. Then the Superpole race saw a ninth place finish for Fores. Race two continued Fores’ great weekend as he finished tenth.

Bonovo Action BMW:

Loris Baz:

The French rider could not match Redding’s performances but did not have a bad weekend. A 10th place finish in race one was a decent start. However, a DNF in the Superpole race was not a great start to his Sunday. But that turned around in race two with a 12th place finish.

Eugene Laverty:

Laverty was out performed by the other two BMW riders this weekend. However, in race one Laverty scored points as he finished 15th place. The Superpole race was not a great race for Laverty as he did not finish, just like his teammate. Laverty got more points in race two as he finished 14th.

GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team:

Kohta Nozane:

The Japanese rider scored points in one race this season as he finished 14th place in race one. However, a decent 11th place finish in the Superpole race does not give Nozane points. In race two Nozane finished 13th.

BARNI Spark Racing Team:

Luca Bernardi:

An average weekend for Bernardi as he finished 13th in race one and then 15th in the Superpole race. Race two was no better for the Ducati rider as he could only finish 15th place.

Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha:

Christophe Ponsson:

The French rider had a rather poor weekend. He could only manage 18th in race one, 12th in the Superpole race and then 16th in race two.

Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team:

Marvin Fritz:

The German rider had a bad weekend as he stands in with Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team. A 16th place finish was not a great result for Fritz and then a DNF in the Superpole race was not a great start to Sunday. Race two was no better with a 17th place finish.

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing:

Lucas Mahias:

The French rider had a poor weekend in Estoril as he battled towards the back. A 17th place finish in race one, a DNF in the Superpole race and a DNS for race two.

MIE Racing Honda Team:

Hafizh Syahrin:

The ex-MotoGP rider had another difficult weekend in World Superbikes. Syahrin finished 19th in race one, a 16th place finish in the Superpole race and then a 19th place finish in race two.