2023-10-29 15:06:24
It wasn’t enough for Álvaro Bautista to win the Superbike World Championship in Jerez. That’s why in the morning he already started commanding a Superole Race that he ended up winning in the short eight-lap race. Dominic Aegerter stood on the podium with him for the first timealong with Jonathan Rea in what would be his penultimate race with Kawasaki.
Thus, the final shot of the WSBK in Jerez started with Álvaro Bautista leading Race 2. A nervous Rea ate the Spaniard in the first turns on the track, and very closely, Toprak Razgatlioglu, who didn’t give it much thought either. One lap later the Turk was already passing the Spaniard, who was losing steam and showing somewhat erratic driving while Aegerter harassed him.
The excitement didn’t last too long. Rea, who crashed with 14 laps left and when he began to gain an abysmal distance over Razgatlioglu and Bautista. Toprak inherited first place unconsciously, and Bautista couldn’t get the Turk off the radar then. Anyway, Rea returned to the dance floor and wanted to finish her last dance with Akashi’s people.
Huge disappointment for @jonathanrea crashing out of the lead in his final race with Kawasaki ???? #ESPWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/vKC2bC7s0o
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 29, 2023
This was a couples duel. Bautista spent much of the race trying to catch Razgatlioglu. Behind them were Aegerter and Rinaldi, who were fighting their own battle until they gave chase to the two lead pilots, like the other couple fighting just behind them, Gardner and Petrucci.
Already halfway through the race, the fight was not between two, but four. Those in the second group (Rinaldi and Aegerter) hunted down Razgatlioglu (who was still leading) and Bautista. The duel was red hot: overtaking was flying, and the Turk did not allow himself to be stepped on while the others were on their heels. The last race, in a big way.
That’s entertainment! @toprak_tr54 @19Bautista @michaelrinaldi_ & @DomiAegerter77 putting on a show! ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️#ESPWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/T29LBB7sRC
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 29, 2023
Nobody gave in until the end. Bautista and Razgatlioglu continued doing their thing, returning the ax blows. They were not aware that a group of four pilots who were very close together had formed around them. In the end they all ended up taking off, except Aegerter.
The last three laps were heart-stopping. The Yamaha guy was the one who had the baton of command and every time Álvaro gave him the bike, he gave it back in spades. On the verge of crashing coming out of the last corner, Razgatlioglu passed 1st and Bautista was 2nd, but things changed a few seconds later: The Turk was relegated to second place after crossing the limits of the track, giving the victory to the Talavera. Aegerter was 3rd.
The race 2 victory goes to @19Bautista as @toprak_tr54 drops 1 position for exceeding track limits on the final lap ???? #ESPWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/IWKP0NTrwL
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 29, 2023
Behind, Gardner ended up being 4th, already far from the group. Petrucci (5th) could not beat him, while Rinaldi (6th) was unable to overcome his rivals, although ahead of Oettl (7th). Locatelli was 8th, Rea 9th and Gerloff closed the top 10. As for the Spanish fleet, the best positioned were Vierge 13th and Lecuona 16th. Rea finished 17th after his comeback.
The general classification no longer matters after Bautista’s victory to take the crown, but the championship ends with Bautista leading with a sovereign advantage: 628 points ahead of Toprak, with 552. And Rea, who said goodbye to Kawasaki in tears with 370 points.
Read also. Márquez begins to enjoy the Honda in his last races: “Today he was quarrelsome, unruly”
Race 2 Jerez WorldSBK 2023 results
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