In an unforgettable showdown, the top two contenders for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship engaged in a fierce duel at the Circuito de Jerez ā Angel Nieto.Ā Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing ā Ducati)Ā secured the win, withĀ Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK)Ā initially crossing the finish line first but was promptly docked one position for stepping outside the track limits.Ā Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), aiming for a high note farewell with Kawasaki, was in the lead before an unfortunate crash on Lap 5.
In a day of highs for Yamaha,Ā Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team)Ā achieved his second career podium, capping off a brilliant season for the GYTR GRT Yamaha team as his team mateĀ Remy GardnerĀ took fourth place.Ā Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)Ā emerged as the top Independent rider in fifth position.Ā Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing ā Ducati)Ā secured sixth place, securing fifth overall in the Championship standings.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista |Ā Aruba.it Racing ā Ducati
“For sure it’s been a really good season. It wasn’t perfect because of course we made mistakes but it’s the best way to finish the season so far here in Jerez winning three races. Especially in Race 2, the battle was amazing. With Toprak we did a lot of overtakes, all were very special and agressive but at the same time we were correct between us. For sure, I enjoyed a lot this race, even more than the one of Portimao because here I had nothing to lose. The support here with the Spanish fans was incredible. I was so happy to end the season here.”
P2Ā | Toprak Razgatlioglu | Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK
āI passed the chequered flag in P1, this is good for me. I touched the green for track limits, but I didnāt understand as I felt the bike sliding. Maybe, after sliding, I touched it. I didnāt gain an advantage, but rules are rules. For my last day with Yamaha, I just tried to finish in a good position. I needed to try to have good memories of my last race and winning with Yamaha. Iām a little bit sad, but I did a very good job. I gave more than 100% just like at Portimao; I am really fighting with him. I needed some luck because, in the last two races, I didnāt have luck. Iām sad but generally happy for my last race with Yamaha, because everybody could see I gave more than 100%.ā
P17 | Jonathan Rea | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
āStrange feelings overall to be honest, not from a performance or results side but because Iām leaving an incredible team. My last day in green and thatās what is strange. Obviously, not the result I wanted to finish off with for my team, they deserved a lot better. What we did prove was that the Ninja ZX-10RR still has potential and up until that point of the race, I felt quite in control with a really good rhythm. There were times when I was like āooof, Iāve got a magic tyreā! The bike was hooking up well and going forwards. Pere made a bold decision to make an incredible change, something quite big on the bike that we wanted to try. We didnāt go down without a fight and it was really frustrating to lose the front. Potentially, I could have just gave up the corner a bit, I was a bit fast on entry but I tried to pull it down and with too much lean angle, I was down.
I wanted to finish the race as it would be too easy to pull in. My footpeg had broken off and my handlebar bent forward but I was still able to lap in the 1ā41s. It makes me even more disappointed with what couldāve been but that was our race. It sums up the highs and lows weāve had this year; some incredible highs but difficult moments but it canāt darken the moments Iāve had at KRT. Itās been a whirlwind journey and something Iāll never forget.ā
WorldSBKĀ Race 2 ResultsĀ
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing ā Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.018s
3. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.321s
4. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +1.370s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +2.602s
6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing ā Ducati) +5.997sĀ
WorldSBKĀ Championship standings
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.itĀ Racing ā Ducati) points
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 552 points
3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing TeamĀ WorldSBK) 370 points
