2023-05-06 14:08:03
Impassive before others. This is how the career of Álvaro Bautista could be defined, who has flown solo from start to finish in a career that has had to be resumed on one occasion by a red flag after the fall of Eric Granado. The fight was more fun at the back, between Razgatlioglu and Rea. He ended up taking her
Bautista had a good start, holding on to that record-setting pole position that he had earned a few hours earlier in the qualifying session. Rinaldi took advantage of his presence in the first part of the grid to get second, and Rea who kept the first position. Bautista went into rocket mode and in the second lap Bautista was already taking more than half a second his pursuers, a second in the third lap.
Three laps of the race and Eric Granado was going to the ground; the commissioners immediately raised the red flag after as he was carried on a stretcher off the gravel, out of harm’s way. Razgatlioglu wanted to make up for the lack of sensations in qualifying, and by the second start of the 15-lap race he was already starting 4th, just behind Rea (3rd), Rinaldi (2nd) and Bautista (1st).
???? Race 1 red flagged due to an incident at Turn 11 involving Eric Granado ???? #WorldSBK | #CatalanWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/bFOGBvu0yH
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) May 6, 2023
The race resumed Bautista was doing his thing again. His pace was second to none, again: almost half a second in a lap. However, there was another crash: Baldasarri and Redding were involved in a double crash, although on this occasion the riders got rid of the red flag.
Bassani and Rinaldi were around the pillapilla, Rinaldi coming to touch his brand partner. A single lap later in the fight it was Rinaldi who went to the ground after a touch because of Bassani, which was punished with a ‘long-lap penalty’. that left the escape to Bautista on a tray. With 15 laps to go this left Bassani, Rea and Razgatlioglu in the fight for the podium.
It’s a plus 8 second lead for @19Bautista with the battle for second raging behind him ???? #WorldSBK | #CatalanWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/JvogWVCB6k
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) May 6, 2023
Bassani’s penalty left Rea and Razgatlioglu alone until the end while Bautista led them by more than five seconds at the end of the race. in the end it was the one from Yamaha who took second position on the podium, while the one from Kawasaki crowned third after an overtake by the Turk on the last lap.
The fight was also for fourth place. Bassani, Locatelli and Aegerter were risking the type to sneak into the top 5. Finally it was Locatelli who closed the fourth position, and Aegerter was 5th. Close behind them was Iker Lecuona, finishing 6th, one of the best results so far. Behind him Bassani (7th) and Vierge, 8th. Added to the list of fallen were Sam Lowes and. Isaac Vinales
This race leaves Álvaro Bautista, even more leader of the general classification, with 199 points. Razgatlioglu is still 2nd, closing the gap with 138 points, and 3rd is Locatelli with 117 points. Rea is far, 4th with 89 points.
We will have to wait until tomorrow to hear the Superbikes roar again at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It will be in the Superpole Race, which will be held tomorrow at 11 in the morning, peninsular time.
Also read: And another one for Álvaro Bautista: only one lap and undisputed pole position in Montmeló
Results Race 1 WorldSBK Catalunya
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