WorldSSP: Excellence for Aegerter at Phillip Island

A dramatic race one, and a new winner in the class made it to be an incredible race. Conditions in race two would be dry as we awaited another thriller at Phillip Island. Where Aegerter would push for victory.

As riders waited on the grid it was announced that Niki Tuuli was declared unfit due to stomach pain. Taccini was sent to the back of the grid due to his tyres being under pressure on his Ten Kate Yamaha. With dark clouds in the sky, all riders looked and hoped for a dry race.

Once the race got underway it was Bulega who led the way. Montella did not have a good opening lap as he made contact with his teammate Can Oncu. This unsettled both riders and create a gap to the lead group as Montella would drop down to sixth.

Oncu would end his season in the gravel trap, after the collision sent him onto the grass. A great battle at the front formed, and Bulega would lead over the line after lap one. This would be short-lived as Caricasulo overtook Bulega, before running wide himself at turn one.

The lead was now handed to the champion, Dominique Aegerter on his Yamaha as he attempted to form a gap. On another Yamaha, Baldassarri made it up to second place before taking the lead off Aegerter.

Aegerter would quickly retake the lead, igniting a great battle for the lead. This battling in the lead group allowed Montella to catch up, making it a five-bike battle. Manzi was also closing in as he was having a great ride in sixth position, with Schrotter following him.

With 14 laps left, Schrotter and Manzi would catch up making it seven bikes and four manufacturers in the lead group. More drama would unfold as Montella received a long lap penalty, due to the earlier incident.

With no room for error in the race, Caricasulo tried to overtake Manzi and made contact which ended his race.

Aegerter attempted to pull away from the group, while Montella made it up to fifth position. The now two-time champion put in a champion’s ride and made a gap of over a second.

Battles and passing were constantly being made all the way throughout the field, with Soomer dropping down to 14^th place. Oliver Bayliss was having a great ride in eighth position, to end off his debut season in the championship.

Bayliss was in a four-bike battle, and Jules Cluzel was in this group as he made the final race of his career. The group was made up of three Yamaha’s and a Ducati, showing how equal the class is.

Aegerter looked to be tough to beat, as he extends his gap to two seconds from Caricasulo. With just two laps to go, the Swiss rider showed why he was moving to superbikes.

The chequered flag waved, and for the final time in 2022, Aegerter would take his final Supersport race win. He was joined on the podium by Caricasulo and Baldassarri. As everyone in the paddock waved goodbye to Jules Cluzel.

Aegerter showed his class in 2022, winning until the end and becoming a two-time Supersport champion. In a year where he also took the Moto E championship, he proved that he was a rider to look out for next season.

Image from worldsbk.com