WorldSBK: Alvaro Bautista secures Race One win at Most

Alvaro Bautista started the first race of the weekend on the second row. However, the small Spaniard was determined to claim victory and create history for Ducati.

With Bautista’s appearance on the podium Ducati claimed their 1000^th MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship podium. After starting fourth place Bautista stayed close to the leaders of Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu in the early stages of the race. After passing both of his championship rivals at the end of lap 11 and the start of lap 12 Bautista claimed his 23rd race win.

As Bautista cleared off up the road he left the podium battle between three other riders. Rea, Razgatlioglu and Scott Redding. The final podium order was decided on the final lap as Razgatlioglu passed Redding for second place and Rea had to settle for fourth.

Axel Bassani and a rather aggressive Andrea Locatelli battled for fifth place. The two Italians fought hard for the majority of the race. However, Bassani made the break late on in the race and secured a top five finish in the opening race at Most. Another Italian rounded out the top seven as factory Ducati rider, Michael Ruben Rinaldi finished seventh.

Spaniard Iker Lecuona, an ill Alex Lowes and Garrett Gerloff rounded out the top ten of the opening race. Lecuona continues to impress the World Superbike paddock as he still has not finished outside of the top ten.

Images from worldsbk.com