Race 2 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship didn’t disappoint for the Italian spectators at the Acerbis Italian Round, as #9 rider Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) secured his third win in a row over the race weekend, stepping onto the podium for the 13th time this season. It was all to play for with the remaining podium positions, as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fought to gain an extra four vital championship points.
THREE OUT OF THREE: Petrucci’s perfect weekend
It was another impressive start from Petrucci at lights out on Race 2 at the Italian circuit; fresh from his Superpole Race win on Sunday morning. He was being chased down by fellow Italian’s Bulega and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) heading into Turn 1, with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Ducati rider Bautista close behind. The race began to settle with 20 laps to go, as Petrucci maintained a firm lead out at the front, with the action for second and third positions providing some exciting battles.
LOWES IN THE MIX: Thrilling race battles for fourth
Alex Lowes fought a hard race to contend with Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and Spain’s Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) for a fiercely contended fourth and fifth place, but it was the American #31 who managed to hold off his rivals and cross the line just outside of the rostrum. Lowes was on his tail, taking fifth at the chequered flag whilst Lecuona struggled with some late race pace, coming in over thirteen seconds behind the race winner. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) led Honda’s Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) to take seventh, eighth and ninth, whilst Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) rounded off the top 10.
100 DUCATI PODIUMS: Bautista shines on Italian podium
#1 rider Alvaro Bautista achieved an incredible 100th Ducati podium, matching Carl Fogarty’s record. He stood alongside Championship Title rival Bulega. Both riders are chasing down the current Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who still leads despite being absent from the Italian Round due to injury. Bouncing back from previous struggles in the season, Danilo Petrucci has shown he is back and determined to continue fighting for wins. With just three rounds remaining in the WorldSBK 2024 season, the race action is certain to provide plenty more entertainment to come.
Top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:
1. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team)
2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.023s
3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.910s
4. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +8.452s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +8.761s
6. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +13.397s
Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati – 1’29.438s
Championship standings
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 365 points
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 352
3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 283
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 255
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 252
6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 184
Source: WorldSBK.com