WorldSBK: Argentina Race One

Alvaro Bautista wins the opening race of the weekend in Argentina

After smashing the lap record Toprak Razgatlioglu started from pole position. Joining the Turkish rider on the front row of the grid was Jonathan Rea and Alvaro Bautista. With the Championship battle still on Razgatlioglu will be aiming to outscore Bautista all weekend.

As the Argentine round began it was Toprak Razgatlioglu who took the first holeshot of the weekend. Rea and Iker Lecuona followed Razgatlioglu closely behind. However, at the end of the back straight Bautista blasted his way into the lead.

Drama occurred on lap one as Razgatlioglu ended up in the gravel at the end of the straight. The reigning Champion made a rare mistake and may have ruined his title hopes. Razgatlioglu did rejoin the race.

Lap two saw Axel Bassani take the lead from Rea. Bautista had dropped back from first to fourth and Lecuona slotted back into third. Bassani started to gap Rea and looked rather comfortable at the front as soon as he took the lead.

On lap six Bautista struck as he took second place off title rival Rea. The sheer power of the Ducati allowed the Spaniard to get alongside Rea and pass him.

Lap eight of 21 and it is Bautista now in the lead as he passed Bassani. The young Italian and Rea were still all over the back of the factory Ducati rider. Rea barged his way through on Bassani to take second place as he begins the chase on Bautista. Bassani returned the favour to Rea as he retook second place.

Home hero Leandro Mercado crashed out of the race with 13 laps to go. Not what the Argentine fans wanted to see. The Argentinian rider was taken to the medical centre for a check up.

On lap 11 Bassani was passed by Rea. However, their battle began to heat up as Bassani passed Rea back straight away.

With six laps to go Rea was still stalking Bassani as the Northern Irishman looked like he would have a go at passing Bassani.

Three laps to go and Bassani and Rea were battling it out for second place. The Italian and the Northern Irishman were swapping places every corner. The young Ducati rider was determined to beat the experienced six time World Champion.

After 21 laps it was pure Bautista domination as he destroyed the field and won the race by five seconds. Bautistas Championship hopes have increased after today as he now has a 80 point lead. Rea and Bassani also take podium finishes for Kawasaki and satellite Ducati.

Images from worldsbk.com