2022 World Superbike Misano, Italy - Race Results (2)

Alvaro Bautista does the double for Ducati after thrashing the World Superbike competition in race two at Misano. 

After clinching his first win of the season, Toprak Razgatlioglu began race two at Misano from pole, with Alvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea also on the front row. 

Back from injury this weekend, World Superbike rookie Roberto Tamburini stalled his Yamaha R1 at the start of the formation lap. 

As the lights went out it was Razgatlioglu who led into turn one for the third consecutive time this weekend. 

While Bautista remained second, Rea momentarily lost third position to Honda rider Xavi Vierge, but the Kawasaki rider recovered the podium place just two corners later. 

Not for the first time this weekend, Bautista attempted to take the lead at turn eight but ran wide [lap two]. After getting better drive off turn 10 Bautista thought he made the move stick into Curvone [turn 11], however, the reigning world champion came back at the Ducati rider into turn 14. 

While the top three continued to fight, a blistering start from Michael Rinaldi saw him go from tenth to fourth, before the Italian made that P3 with a brilliant move on Rea at turn nine. 

Lap four proved unlucky for Garrett Gerloff and Gabriele Ruiu as both riders crashed out. 

With Razgatlioglu and Bautista exchanging fastest laps, Rea was unable to get back through on Rinaldi who was slowly losing touch with the leading duo. 

Clearly faster, Bautista once again used the drive of his Panigale V4 R to blast past Razgatlioglu into turn 11, but this time the Yamaha rider was unable to perform a lunge into 14. 

Finally ahead and looking to break clear, Bautista was finding it difficult to drop Razgatlioglu who was putting together one of the ride’s of the year to stay close.

While it was incredible to watch, Razgatlioglu’s R1 was pulling all sorts of shapes as he was truly on the limit. 

Fifth and once again getting the better of team-mate Iker Lecuona, Vierge’s race two ended in disappointment after suffering a massive crash at turn 11. 

While the Honda rider was taken to the medical centre, Bautista finally broke clear of Razgatlioglu as mistakes were creeping into the Turkish star’s riding. 

A metronomic pace was continuing to be set by Bautista who was showing just why he’s the current championship leader and favourite for the title. 

In the battle for fifth, Lecuona was looking comfortable ahead of Alex Lowes, who was given a long-lap penalty due to exceeding track limits. The penalty dropped Lowes below Andrea Locatelli and Axel Bassani. 

Misano World Superbike Records

Fastest ever lap - Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.it Ducati 1:33.328s (2022)

Fastest race lap - Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.it Ducati 1:34.221s (2022)

2021 Race Winners 

Race 1 - Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.it Ducati

Superpole Race - Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.it Ducati

Race 2 - Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha 

2022 Race Winners 

Race 1 - Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.it Ducati 

Superpole Race - Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha

Redemption for Razgatlioglu as he wins his first World Superbike race with the #1 plate

Starting from pole for the second time this weekend, Alvaro Bautista was again beaten to turn one by Toprak Razgatlioglu. 

Unlike race one though, Bautista also lost out to Rea as the six-time World Superbike champion then turned second into first at turn 10. 

Eager to win his first race as world champion, Razgatlioglu wasted no time in responding to Rea’s charge as he regained the lead at turn two (lap two). 

With Rea continuing to pressure Razgatlioglu, suspicions of a jump-start were circulating as it appeared as though Rea moved before the lights went out. 

With eight laps to go, Razgatlioglu increased his pace as he dropped Rea by over a second. 

A new race lap record was set by Razgatlioglu, while Rea was now coming under intense pressure from Bautista.

After several hard responses to Bautista’s overtakes, Rea eventually lost out to the flying Spaniard at turn 13.  

Although Bautista started to gap Rea, the pace being set by Razgatlioglu was proving difficult for the championship leader to overcome. 

By far his best race from what’s already been a strong rookie season in World Superbike, Xavi Vierge was beginning to pressure a struggling Rea for third.

Following the close battle between Bautista and Rea, plus his own stunning pace, Razgatlioglu was able to control the final few laps. 

As was the case in the Superpole race in Estoril, Razgatlioglu was by far the quickest rider, however, the Turkish star avoided a mistake this time around despite being on the limit until the very end. 

With Razgatlioglu and Bautista in a league of their own, Rea was continuing to face pressure from Vierge, albeit the former Moto2 rider found it hard to get close enough to generate an overtake.