WorldSBK: Alvaro Bautista brilliant in Britain

Alvaro Bautista wins at Donington Park, taking his second win of the weekend in Britain.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was on pole position for the final race of the weekend. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was alongside him on the front row.

The lead changed multiple times going to turn one, but it was Toprak Razgatlioglu who led the way. It was an intense start to the race with a crash involving  Tom Sykes (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), and Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW).

On the second start of the race, Bautista led the field away after a great start to the race. At the Melbourne Hairpin Loop, both Razgatlioglu and Rea found a way through on the championship leader.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK)  was behind in fourth and ahead of Garett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) in fifth. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was in sixth place after running wide on the first lap.

The top three riders began to stretch a gap to Locatelli and Lowes to over one second at the halfway point. With 13 laps remaining Bautista managed to find a way through on Rea and managed to claim himself into second. 

Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu had an incredible battle in the middle stage of the race. The two riders duked it out on track, pushing their bikes to the limit as they bridged a gap.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was inside of the top five and battled for a podium position against the two Kawasaki’s. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) also began to catch onto the pack leading to an incredible battle for the podium. Redding cut his way through the pack and made his way into fourth after finding a way through Rea.

Bautista wins his 16th race of the season

On the final lap of the race Bautista led by three seconds and would convert it into a race win. Toprak Razgatlioglu had no response and came home in second place at Donington. Danilo Petrucci added to his CV by claiming his first WorldSBK podium after an incredible late-race pace. 

Scott Redding had an amazing duel for fourth place with Jonathan Rea on the final two laps, with both riders wanting to be first Brit. At the line, it was Redding who finished ahead in fourth place. 

Alex Lowes was behind his teammate in sixth, with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) behind in seventh. Andrea Locatelli was behind in eighth after a consistent weekend for the Yamaha rider. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and Philip Oettl (Team GoEleven) rounded out the top 10 after a thrilling final race of the weekend.

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Image credit: Ducati Media