Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) delivered a stellar performance in Race 1 at Jerez to claim not only the race victory but also the 2023 WorldSBK title. Bautista needed just two points to secure the title, and he did so with his 25th win of the season. His domination is now etched in history as he becomes the first Ducati rider to retain the title since Carl Fogarty in 1998 and 1999.
While Bautista seized the championship, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) valiantly chased him to a second-place finish. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) fought his way from the fourth row to take third, marking his 14th career podium. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took fourth place. Danilo Petrucci's (Barni Spark Racing Team) fifth-place performance showcased his prowess in the Independent Riders' Championship as he closed the gap on Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), whose race took an unfortunate turn as he crashed out following an incident with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).
Alvaro Bautista's flawless performance in Race 1 secured his second consecutive WorldSBK title. His victory marked his 25th win of the season, establishing a new record.
Toprak Razgatlioglu displayed determination with his second-place finish, marking his 19th second-place finish of the year.
Andrea Locatelli made an impressive charge from the fourth row to claim the third spot on the podium, adding another podium to his tally.
Jonathan Rea's fourth-place finish showed his resolve as he aims to secure a strong result for his last two races with Kawasaki.
WorldSBK Race 1 Results
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +1.195s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +9.071s
4. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +10.065s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +10.661s
6. Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) 11.538s
WorldSBK Championship standings
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 591 points
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 526 points
3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 363 points
WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Results
1. Alvaro Bautista | Ducati | 1’38.635s
2. Dominique Aegerter | Yamaha | +0.210s
3. Alex Lowes | Kawasaki | +0.270s
Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“I feel so happy! Now I’m starting to realise what we have achieved. I’m really happy and so proud of my team and people, because we had an incredible year. We won a lot of races, our performance in almost all situations was good. The best way to end the season is to defend the title. My two previous titles were won in Australia and Indonesia, so a bit far from home. It's okay, you enjoy it with your team and friends there but it’s not the same as celebrating with your family, real friends, with your team and all the fans. It’s like a dream come true! It’s not easy to win a title at home. I’m so happy to win, but so happy to have the chance to celebrate with everyone!
Bulega dominates Race 1, Manzi and Caricasulo fight for second
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) continued his dominant form in the FIM Supersport World Championship by clinching another commanding victory at Jerez, marking his 15th win of the season. Bulega's early race pace allowed him to build a significant lead, and he crossed the line more than four seconds ahead of his closest rivals.
Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) and Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) engaged in a thrilling battle for second place, with Manzi ultimately securing the runner-up spot, less than a tenth of a second ahead of Caricasulo.
Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) managed to secure a solid fourth-place finish in WorldSSP Race 1 at Jerez after a hard-fought battle with Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha). Navarro demonstrated his determination in the late stages of the race, narrowly defeating Debise by just 0.055 seconds as they crossed the line. The Ten Kate Racing duo's performances also had broader implications as their results allowed the team to clinch the 2023 Teams' Championship. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) delivered a respectable performance, securing sixth place.
Bulega asserted his dominance with an impeccable performance in Race 1. He's on course to break records with his 15th win this season.
While settling for third, Caricasulo’s consistent podium finishes maintain his fourth position in the standings.
WorldSSP Race 1 Results
1 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +4.892s
3. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) +4.931s
4. Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +8.335s
5. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) +8.390s
6. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) +11.557s
WorldSSP Championship standings
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 478 points
2. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) 388 points
3. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 294 points
WorldSSP Tissot Superpole Results
1. Nicolo Bulega | Ducati | 1'41.823
2. Federico Caricasulo | Ducati | +0.587s
3. Marcel Schroetter | MV Agusta | +0.867s
WorldSBK action resumes on Sunday from 9:00 (Local Time) with the Warm-Up, followed by Tissot Superpole Race at 11:00 and Race 2 at 14:00. WorldSSP action will restart on Sunday from 9:25 (Local Time) with the Warm-Up, followed by Race 2 at 12:30.
Dorna WorldSBK