2023 Jerez World Superbike - Race (1) Results
Alvaro Bautista clinched the 2023 title in style with a dominant win from pole in Jerez.
Alvaro Bautista got a dream start from pole and no other rider showed him a wheel on his way to victory - and the 2023 title - with Toprak Razgatlioglu pushing his title rival to the very end.
The Aruba.it Ducati rider took the title at the first opportunity. A perfect launch off the the line saw the Spaniard hold first and never look back. Razgatlioglu gave chase moving forward rapidly from seventh on the grid to play his part and apply pressure - all he could do as even a win was not enough for the Turkish rider should Bautista finish.
Unhassled the #1 plated bike pulled away to lead over the line by 1,195s for a home win, taking the 2023 title in front of his fanclub changing into a gold set of race leathers for his victory lap.
Bautista became the first back-to-back title winner for Ducati since Carl Fogarty did completed his back in 1999.
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Razgatlioglu brought home the Pata Yamaha second after a brave attempt to take the title fight to the Sunday.
Andrea Locatelli was a distant third behind his teammate, but made strong progress to be on the podium, from tenth on the grid for his eighth podium.
Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea was up to second early in the race but faded back to fourth on the Kawasaki, with a final big move from Locatelli with eight laps to go ensuring he finished ahead.
Danilo Petrucci was also making big gains, coming from twelfth on the grid, through a big five way battle for sixth with Bassani, Oettl , Rinaldi and Gerloff to leave that battle and move on for fifth for Barni Spark Ducati, keeping his hopes of a turnaround in the independent title battle alive.
Team GoEleven’s Philipp Oettl was about a second behind after leaving that fight and moving onto a battle for position with Alex Lowes.
Lowes took seventh for Kawasaki ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who had to take his Aruba.it Ducati around the penalty loop after revisiting an old rivalry - contact with Axel Bassani sent him into the turn nine gravel, kicking the barriers in anger. Rinaldi started his penalty eighth and rejoined eighth.
Iker Lecuona ( Team HRC) and Xavi Veirge, his teammate, completed the top ten.
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Tito Rabat on a Pucetti Racing Kawasaki claimed eleventh, some of his forward motion came from overtakes and some from exits ahead.
The remaining race 1 points went to Loris Baz in 13th for Bonovo Action BMW, his teammate Garrett Gerloff, who remounted after an early fall and Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas MIE Racing Honda Team) in 15th.
The only other riders to finish the race were Oliver Konig, Leandro Mercado in for the injured Eric Granado, Dominique Aegerter who went backwards from the front rwo with a technical issue to finish 18th and Florian Alt.
Gabriele Ruiu was shown the black flag with the yellow disc and forced to retire. Michael van der Mark, and Scott Redding both crashed out in quick succession, while Remy Gardner also failed to go the distance, damaging his elbow in his fall.
