Alvaro Bautista’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) record-breaking campaign culminated in securing his second MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship title at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto after he won Race 1. The reigning Champion needed to score only two points to become a back-to-back Champion and he did just that to add his name to an exclusive club as he fended off Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) to end his hopes of taking the title fight until the last day of the season.

A CHAMPION CROWNED AGAIN: Bautista makes it two in a row

Bautista got the holeshot when the 20-lap race got underway and immediately looked to pull out a gap over his rivals, while Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) started from seventh but made his way into second by the end of Lap 2 knowing he had to win the race to have any chance of delaying Bautista’s coronation. With the #1 a few tenths clear, the #54 set about closing the gap and was faster in some sectors, while the Ducati was faster in others.

However, despite the Turkish rider’s pressure in the first half of the race, the reigning Champion was able to start edging clear with the gap reaching just under a second by the start of Lap 11. As the margin increased, so did his grip on the Championship. Needing just two points to win his second title, the #1’s victory by just over a second, after backing off on the final lap, meant he wrapped up the World Championship, to become the first Ducati rider to retain his title since Carl Fogarty in 1998 and 1999.

Razgatlioglu came home in second despite his valiant efforts in the early stages of Race 1, with the Turk finishing just over a second behind the now double WorldSBK Champion, with the #54 immediately congratulating his rival on the cool-down lap. The win was Bautista’s 25^th win of the season, while it was his 87^th podium in his WorldSBK career. For Razgatlioglu, it was his 114^th rostrum to move him level with Tom Sykes as he took his 19^th second place of the year.

FROM TENTH TO THE PODIUM: Locatelli fights to the rostrum

The fight for the final spot on the podium was a three-way fight between Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), who started from the fourth row, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in the early stages before the #22 dropped down in the closing stages. ‘Loka’ came through on Lowes at Turn 13 for P4 on Lap 12, before making the same move on future teammate Rea two laps later to claim third and his 14^th career podium. Rea finished in fourth, just under a second back from the Pata Yamaha rider.

TOP DUCATI BATTLE TAKES HUGE TWIST: Bassani and Rinaldi make contact, Independent fight goes on

With Lowes dropping down the order, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) battled for fifth, with the #9 taking P5 by just 0.887s. Petrucci was able to close in on Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) in the Independent Riders’ battle as the #47 crashed out after an incident with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at Turn 9 on Lap 14. The #21 was given a Long Lap Penalty for the incident and finished in eighth; six seconds behind Lowes who was able to stem his drop down the field for seventh. In the fight to be the second Ducati rider in the standings, Bassani’s non-score and Rinaldi’s eight points have allowed the latter to close the gap to just three points. For the Independent Riders’ battle, Petrucci now trails Kawasaki-bound Bassani by 28 points.

IN THE POINTS: two Hondas in the top ten, Rabat uses factory Kawasaki to equal best result

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) claimed ninth after being unable to take advantage of Rinaldi’s penalty with the Italian coming out ahead of the #7 after serving his Long Lap Penalty. He was three seconds clear of teammate Xavi Vierge, while Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 11^th. With Kawasaki Puccetti using a factory ZX-10RR this weekend, the Spaniard was able to equal his best result in WorldSBK. He was two seconds clear of Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) in 12^th, while Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was the lead BMW rider in 13^th. He fended off teammate Garrett Gerloff as he recovered from a Turn 2 crash on Lap 10, with the American able to battle back for two points. Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) rounded out the points scoring positions.

HOUSEKEEPING: just missing out on points, factory BMW disaster on Saturday

Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) narrowly missed out on his first point of the year in 16^th, as he finished less than a tenth away from the Malaysian. Late substitute Leandro Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was 17^th, just a few seconds away from his teammate, while Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 18^th. The #77 tumbled down the order in the opening stages after suffering a technical problem but was able to finish ahead of wildcard Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) in 19^th.

After an impressive Tissot Superpole performance, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crashed out at Turn 8, after making contact with the back of Bassani’s Panigale V4 R, with the #47 able to stay on his bike despite the contact. The Australian was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following his crash and he will be reassessed tomorrow morning before Warm Up after suffering a deep abrasion on his right elbow. Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing) had been fighting for top BMW honours but a technical issue around the halfway stage forced him into the pits. ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team riders also retired. Scott Redding brought his bike into the pits after completing seven laps, while Michael van der Mark crashed at Turn 13 a few laps later.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 1, full results here:

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

Fastest Lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha), 1’40.351s

Championship standings

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 591 points

2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 526

3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 363

4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 316

5. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) 244

6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 241

Two races coming up on Sunday! Don’t miss the Tissot Superpole Race from 11:00 Local Time (GMT+1) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed his second MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship title with two races to spare after a perfect performance in Race 1 on home soil at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. The now double WorldSBK Champion became the first rider to retain the title for Ducati since Carl Fogarty won in 1998 and 1999 with his victory at the Prometeon Spanish Round, fending off an early challenge from Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) to win the race.

The #1 needed to score just two points to guarantee the title, or he won it if the 2021 Champion didn’t win the race, but he took the maximum 25 points available to ensure his celebrations could start before the final day of the season. His victory moved him onto 591 points – now only 10 behind his 2022 tally – while the #54 sits 65 points back and guaranteed to finish second in the standings, behind Bautista and ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in third; the Titanic Trio completing the top three in the standings.

Bautista took pole position in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session ahead of Swiss rookie Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Spaniard leaving it late to claim his 29^th podium of the season. This gave him the perfect platform to win Race 1, leading every lap despite his rival’s pressure in the first half of the race. At that point, the #1 was able to build a gap of around four seconds although his winning margin was just over a second after he backed off on the final lap.

Discussing his thought process heading into Race 1, and now the title is secured, Bautista said: “To do it here at Jerez was very, very special. Many people said, ‘you only need two points, keep calm’. I said, ‘I don’t think about the points or the results or the Championship’. I wanted to stay free and just enjoy it. Maybe, if you’re thinking about that kind of target which can be easy to do, it’s worse because then you relax and you lose your focus, lose your performance. I preferred to just forget about everything and try to focus on myself, enjoy my riding. I felt so good from the beginning, and I could keep my pace. In the last laps, I started to think about the Championship more but that’s normal! Now I can be more relaxed especially from the outside, especially because a lot of people put a lot of pressure on me.”

Bautista was able to celebrate in front of his home fans, after winning his previous two titles in flyaway races. He took the 125cc World Championship in Australia and won last year’s WorldSBK title in Indonesia. With Jerez the season finale for 2023, the Bautista’s transformation from red to gold took place in front of his fans’ club, while he also celebrated across the line making a heart symbol for his daughters.

Speaking as a two-time WorldSBK Champion, Bautista spoke about his emotions and being able to celebrate on home soil. He said: “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!”

Bautista’s second title moves him into an exclusive club. Only five riders have won back-to-back titles in WorldSBK: Fred Merkel (1988-1989), Doug Polen (1991-1992), Carl Fogarty (1994-1995 and 1998-1999) and Jonathan Rea (2015-2020) have won consecutive titles, while others have won multiple titles but not in a row. He’s also the first Ducati rider to win the title using the #1 since ‘Foggy’ in 1999.

Congratulate Bautista on his success using the hashtag #TheDefence and watch the final day of 2023 using the WorldSBK VideoPass – only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The excitement is building for the inaugural FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship, slated to commence in 2024. This ground-breaking event promises to be a thrilling addition to the world of motorcycling, featuring women riders competing on a global stage.

Key details about the new series were revealed in a press conference held during the Prometeon Spanish Round at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto with FIM President Jorge Viegas, FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission Director Janika Judeika, WorldSBK Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla and Yamaha Motor Europe’s President and CEO Eric de Seynes. Also in attendance was 2023 Women’s European Champion Beatriz Neila, who shared her views on the opportunities offered by the new competition.

The 2024 FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship will comprise six rounds and one pre-season test, all integrated within the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.

1. Emilia Romagna Round, Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” – June 14th-16th

2. UK Round, Donington Park Circuit – July 12th-14th

3. Portuguese Round, Autodromo Internacional do Algarve – August 9th-11th

4. Hungarian Round, Balaton Park Circuit – August 23rd-25th

5. Italian Round, Cremona Circuit – September 20th-22nd

6. Spanish Round, Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto – October 11th-13th

During each Round, the action will unfold as follows: Superpoles on Friday, Race 1 on Saturday, and Race 2 on Sunday, offering fans a full weekend of adrenaline-pumping racing.

Yamaha, with their Yamaha YZF-R7 model, will serve as the single manufacturer for the Championship. Additionally, a single technical and logistic partner will oversee all technical aspects, ensuring a level playing field for all riders.

Prospective riders can apply during the pre-application process, which runs from November 13^th, 2023, to January 31^st, 2024. Confirmation of participation from DWO is expected no later than February 15^th, 2024.

Riders must be a minimum of 18 years old and can opt to race under a team name, adding a personalised touch to the Championship.

The entry fee for permanent riders is set at €25,000, including a comprehensive package, such as the use of Yamaha YZF R7 MY 2023, a GYTR Racing Kit, Pirelli tyres, fuel, racing service and access to the Paddock Village.

Amongst the benefits of running under the umbrella of WorldSBK, the new series will enjoy global broadcast coverage, Pirelli prize money and PR opportunities ensuring the rider sponsors’ visibility on a global scale.

The FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship promises to be an electrifying addition to the world of motorsport, showcasing the immense talent and dedication of women in the field. Stay tuned for the thrilling action set to unfold in 2024!

Jorge Viegas, FIM President, stated: “In the FIM, we have been working very hard to include more and more women in racing in the last 20 years, since we created the Women Commission. We already have Women’s Championships in Motocross, Enduro, and Trial, and we are going to have Speedway very soon. When we started to think about a Circuit Racing Championship, Dorna embraced this project and we’ve been working together since April, and I think Gregorio (Lavilla) did a very good job. There is a lot of demand from women to join this Championship. There will be women coming from Japan, from the United States, from Latin America, and from Europe, of course. I think it will be a big success.”

Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director, added: “When we started with this project, we thought about many types of formats, many conditions, and we ended up with a solution that we think is feasible. This is a growing project that will develop depending on the feedback from the spectators, from the riders, from manufacturers. Since 2020, we started doing two races in all our categories, and this Championship will have the same format, qualifying, and two races. The schedule of next year’s weekends is going to be tight because we will have a lot of races. But I think that’s good for the motorcycling fans. I would also like to mention all the partners, like Yamaha, who had a positive response when we knocked on their doors. Today is a great day to start a new project.”

FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission Director, Janika Judeika, also shared her thoughts: “Today is a special day as we present the first-ever FIM World Championship for Women in Circuit Racing. The FIM launched a project dedicated to women in Circuit Racing ten years ago with the first-ever training camp on the circuit in Albacete, Spain. Four other camps then followed between 2013 and 2015 in the Czech Republic and Qatar with an average number of twenty-four participants from four continents and twelve countries. In 2014, as part of this project and thanks to the support of Midori Moriwaki, an all-female team took part in the Suzuka 4 Hours that included Shelina Moreda and Melissa Paris also in 2015 with Shelina and Avalon Biddle. Already at that time, it was clear that there were fast women who were also clamoring to have their own championship. I am pretty sure that among the women who will now participate in this new FIM World Championship will be some of those who have previously participated in the FIM circuit racing training camps where the aim was to bring together fast women and to understand when the time would be right to create their own championship. This is now a reality!”

Eric de Seynes, President and CEO, Yamaha Motor Europe, was proud to be a key part in providing the machinery: “Yamaha likes to win, but Yamaha also wants to support the sport from all different aspects, and we think that as a manufacturer, we have to take our responsibility. We cannot be proud to win, supervise, and ignore all the rest of the pyramid. If we want to be champions, we have to take care of the young champions of all the different classes and help them progress year after year. Also, in motocross, we have always supported the women riders in the Women Championships. We have won many times, and when this idea was raised, we were absolutely motivated to support it because you have to understand that in many cases, there is a difficulty for the riders coming from national championships to get the label at the World Championship level. And it’s exactly the same for women. 30% of our customers are women, and they want to race. With this Championship, we will give the correct step for women to demonstrate their talent.”

2023 Women’s European Champion Beatriz Neila concluded the quotes, saying: “In my opinion, there has always been women competing against men. But it’s true that in that period of time, no one has reached the top of the category, MotoGP or Superbike. Why? It’s like this because women and men are different, are physically different. And for that the present of this Championship allows women to fight for a world title, to have the ranking, to see who is the fastest woman in the world, season by season, to be recognised, to take advantage of our status as a woman in the world of motorbikes, and to show the world what women can do on a bike. All of this can be achieved by creating a women’s World Championship in which we can compete women against women. It is a reference for a new generation, and I know that this Championship will be really interesting and a new opportunity for women. And today is the start of something amazing.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Who would have thought that when Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Ducati parted ways at the end of 2019, they’d find each other again for 2022 and 2023, with two titles to their name? The 38-year-old from Telavera de la Reina has joined many an exclusive club in what has been a trail-blazing title defence; now, a two-time WorldSBK Champion, back-to-back at that and likewise for Ducati, his season has been nothing short of remarkable and perhaps worryingly for his rivals, it still isn’t over.

THE RECORDS AND WINS: starting on a high

When the calendar was released and Phillip Island shown as the first round, the biggest smile probably went to the now #1. After an extravagant team launch in Madonna di Campiglio in the Italian Dolomites which revealed the #1 on the front of WorldSBK Ducati for the first time in 18 years, the opening round awaited and that’s exactly where #TheDefence started. An emphatic hat-trick got his season off to a storming start; we’d seen the movie before though, if you think back to that debut in 2019. With that kind of form and both main rivals Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) struggling, the tone was set.

For the next 12 races, Bautista rocketed to 11 race wins, the only race he failed to win was when he crashed in the Superpole Race at Mandalika. Besides that, he was dominant, with a memorable triple in Barcelona preceding a home triple for Ducati at Misano. The run was ended by Razgatlioglu at Donington Park in the Superpole Race but even then, the Turk’s rear-view mirror was filled with red as Bautista chased a record-breaking 12^th straight win, never done before in World Superbike. By the time WorldSBK’s return to Imola was underway, the reigning World Champion was on a mission and he took the first win of the weekend, seeing his lead extend up to 98 points, the most it had ever been and the most he’d ever had in a World Championship.

FIGHTING OFF THE OPPOSITION AND BOUNCING BACK: playing the game well

There were countless battles in the second half of the year as his main rivals found some strong form to keep him honest. Imola’s Superpole Race proved a particular turning point, when Razgatlioglu beat Bautista in the final two laps – somehow without any electronics – before Bautista crashed on the opening lap of Race 2, which saw the Turk take 25 points out of his Championship lead. Toprak was then second as Bautista struggled with a front tyre change issue in the flag-to-flag Race 1 at Most, before he took more points from him in the Superpole Race. It looked like he had Bautista beaten in Race 2 as well but a rear tyre failure saw him crash out as the Championship leader won.

At Magny-Cours, Bautista suffered a temporary tech issue in Race 1 as Razgatlioglu once more stormed to victory. However, the Spaniard recovered again, making the most of a bad situation with a tenth place finish, before a second and a win on Sunday. It showed Bautista’s mentality; bouncing back from knocks and misfortune, choosing to fight hard instead of settle down. The race-by-race mentality coincided with thinking of the Championship too, as despite wanting to win each race, he always answered back to Toprak’s threats. This was never truer than at Aragon, when after a Race 1 crash from the lead – and then a second one on the final lap from a points-scoring position – he took a sublime Sunday double. The Superpole Race saw him get his elbows out whilst he eased to Race 2 victory. He was willing to battle and do what it took to assert himself as #1 whenever possible.

THE CROWNING MOMENT: back-to-back Bautista

Somewhat of a fitting circularity to Bautista in many ways has been the location of his second title; in 2019, it was the scene of where his rookie year title race started to derail, although two years later and he took his second and final podium with Honda. At the end of 2021, it was the setting for #TheReturn with his first test back with Ducati, whilst in 2023, he’s clinched a second title in fine style as despite pressure from Razgatlioglu delaying celebrations from Portimao, the Championship goes back to the red corner as a special chapter of WorldSBK comes to a close in 2023’s final round. Leading the race from lights out until the chequered flag, resisting Toprak’s onslaught, pulling clear and playing to the crowd on the final lap, it was vintage Alvaro at home, as he clinched the title on home soil for the first time.

MEMBERS ONLY: the exclusive records the #1 has matched, equalled and joined

Whilst a full list of stats about Bautista’s season will come at a later date, here are some of the headlining ones of a memorable season. He matched his and Rea’s record for wins in a row at 11, whilst he also matched and surpassed Carl Fogarty for number of wins in Ducati, taking the 55^th and 56^th in Portugal. He matched and surpassed the number of wins in a season too, with the previous record being 17, whilst Bautista entered his Championship-winning round with 24 and securing the title with a 25^th, thus the first rider ever to take 25 wins in a single season. The three-race format doesn’t come into it either; of those wins, just six came in the Superpole Race, meaning his feature-length wins take him above the 19 count anyway.

Then, there’s the pride of becoming a back-to-back World Champion. Jonathan Rea is the obvious record-holder with six in a row, but there aren’t many more back-to-back title-holders either. Carl Fogarty managed it on two separate occasions – 1994 and 1995 and again in 1998 and 1999. Besides that, Fred Merkel in 1988 and 1989 and Doug Polen in 1991 and 1992 are the only other riders to do it. Troy Bayliss, Colin Edwards, Troy Corser, James Toseland and Max Biaggi are all multiple World Champions but none of them did it in consecutive years. With the #1, he’s the first WorldSBK Champion to do it for Ducati since ‘Foggy’ in 1999, thus the first time since then that Ducati have held on to defend a crown in a World Championship with the same rider – Casey Stoner couldn’t manage it in MotoGP™ in 2008.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is the World Champion in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for a second time. After taking last year’s title, the Spaniard, running the #1 for his defence, was in incredible form all year and got to celebrate in front of his adoring fans at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. To celebrate his title success in Spain, we’ve gathered the best reactions of social media in one easy play. Don’t forget to congratulate Bautista using the hashtag #TheDefence!

Watch more WorldSBK action from Jerez using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €9.99!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega’s penultimate FIM Supersport World Championship race ended with another victory by more than four seconds ahead of his rivals at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto to take his 15^th win of the season, while the battle for second went right to the line. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took second ahead of Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) at the Prometeon Spanish Round, with the pair separated by less than a tenth at the end of the 17-lap race.

BULEGA BRILLIANCE CLAIMS VICTORY: he finishes clear of incredible fight for second

As seen so often throughout 2023, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) got the holeshot and used his early race pace advantage to full effect, pulling out a gap of just under two seconds in the first few laps. Despite starting from the front row, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) dropped back as the lights went out but was soon fighting back as he went in search of his first win. However, he was out of contention early in the race, when he crashed at Turn 6 on Lap 5 while fighting with Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) for the podium places; not long after, teammate Bahattin Sofuoglu, who started from the pitlane, went down at the same corner. Both re-joined the race, but outside the points. Sofuoglu had battled his way close to the points but was given a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding by the FIM Stewards.

Schroetter’s crash promoted Caricasulo to second and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) to third, with the two Italians fighting for the podium places, while it also gave Bulega a four-second lead over the chasing pack. The #62 pulled off a typically aggressive move on ‘Carica’ on Lap 7 to claim second, with Caricasulo attempting to respond a lap later into Turn 6. He was able to pull alongside him but had a moment under braking, costing him time. He was able to make up that time to have another look at passing the Yamaha at the same corner a couple of laps later, but Manzi was able to resist his rival’s challenge.

On the penultimate lap, the Ducati rider looked to make a move under braking heading into the Turn 6 hairpin and, while he was able to get ahead, could not stop his bike in time and ran wide which allowed the #62 back through. Despite his best efforts, Manzi stayed ahead to claim second place with ‘Carica’ in third. Bulega took his 15^th win of the season, two behind the all-time record of 17 with only one race left, while it was Manzi’s 21^st podium in WorldSSP. For Caricasulo, it was his 34^th rostrum visit while the trio were on the podium for the fifth time, equalling the record with two combinations: Dominique Aegerter, Lorenzo Baldassarri and Bulega as well as Joan Lascorz, Eugene Laverty and Kenan Sofuoglu.

NAVARRO PIPS DEBISE TO FOURTH: another battle decided on the final lap

Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took fourth after a late battle with Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha). The Frenchman had been running in fourth, and looked like he was closing in on the podium battle, but he lost to fourth to the #9. Their battle ran right to the wire, with Navarro beating Debise by just 0.055s. The two Ten Kate Racing riders’ results meant that the Dutch squad were able to wrap up the Teams’ Championship with a race to spare. Navarro’s compatriot, Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki), ended his run of retirements with sixth place. The #99 battled with Navarro in the early stages before losing three seconds to the #9, finishing in sixth.

WILDCARD IMPRESSES DESPITE CRASH: Ruiz shows Spanish strength

Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) claimed seventh wand was only 1.5 seconds away from the top six, while he finished eight seconds clear of a fierce fight for eighth. The battle was won by Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) ahead of Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) and Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team). However, it had been a four-way scrap with wildcard Yeray Ruiz (MDR Offitec Yamaha) impressing with his tenacity and speed. However, the Spaniard crashed on the final lap at Turn 5 which ended his chances of a maiden top ten.

FROM PITLANE TO POINTS: Corsi takes 12th, Schroetter recovers for one points

Turkish star Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) put in another points-scoring race despite losing time in the closing stages of the race, as he searches for full fitness. He took 11^th, more than five seconds back from van Straalen, but 3.5 seconds clear of Simone Corsi (Altogo Racing Team). The Italian started from the pit lane due to a technical infringement but was able to fight his way to 12^th. Czech rider Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph) was 13^th ahead of Anupab Sarmoon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) in 14^th and Schroetter in 15^th; the German fighting back after his crash for a point, with teammate Sofuoglu in 16^th after serving his Long Lap Penalty.

HOUSEKEEPING: dramatic start to the penultimate race of the year

The opening couple of laps featured several crashes. Wildcard Emanuele Pusceddu (J.Angel by Edafos) crashed at Turn 1, with Filippo Fuligni (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) involved, and was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following his tumble. He was conscious but declared unfit with concussion, and the Italian was transported to hospital for further assessments. On the same lap, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) crashed at Turn 7, and, like his compatriot, he went to the medical centre for a check-up. He was declared unfit with a fracture to the left metacarpal bone on his hand. On Lap 2, Malaysian rider Muhammad Mohd Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) crashed at Turn 6. Although he re-joined the race, he opted to bring his bike into the pits to retire.

It was a dramatic day for two one event riders who had shown promise prior to Race 1. Melvin van der Voort (Team SWPN), and Gabriele Giannini (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) crashed at Turn 9 with both retiring from the race. The incident was investigated by the FIM Stewards. In the final third of the race, Miquel Pons (Zeus Motorsport) brought his Yamaha machine into the pits and retired.

The top six from WorldSSP Race 1, full results here:

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

Fastest Lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati), 1’41.875s – new lap record

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The final Tissot Superpole of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is in the history books with the grid set for the title-deciding round. The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto will be the venue which crowns the 2023 Champion, whilst various chapters close in other teams as riders move to new outfits. Grabbing a first pole since June, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will be keen to wrap the title up in true style at home with a clear view to Turn 1.

STORY OF SUPERPOLE: fighting for track position from the start

Riders were straight out onto the circuit at the start of the 15-minute session, eager to make the most of the track time. It was a pack of BMWs that led the way with Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) leading round teammate Garrett Gerloff but all tripping themselves up with Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK), Alvaro Bautista and Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in the thick of the action. Champion-elect Bautista hit the front of the pack and was the perfect pace-setting target for those behind, many already with the SCQ tyre. In clear space, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was more on his own initially, as was Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Bautista went top ahead of a charging Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) but it was six-time World Champion Rea who was provisionally top. After the opening laps, the track was congested as the protagonists jockeyed for position.

With less than ten minutes to go, riders came in to change their rubber, whilst others stayed out on different strategies. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) was up in fourth ahead of teammate Remy Gardner, with Garrett Gerloff P6 with half of the session now complete. As riders returned to the track, Jonathan Rea led the second-run charge with his usual Superpole partner Scott Redding latching on behind him, as well as Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who is with a factory ZX-10RR at his disposal this weekend. Rea and Redding pulled clear though and were on great pace and the Ulsterman went faster still whilst the #45 followed him onto the front row.

FRONT ROW: Bautista to go for title #2 from the front

The clocked ticked down and in the final three minutes, there were red sectors and personal bests everywhere; Remy Gardner went into P2 but it was Bautista who stormed to provisional pole after a blistering second half of the lap. Razgatlioglu was only able to go fourth whist Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) demoted him one place further with a stunning P2 effort. Bautista was untouchable at the front and took a first pole since Misano back in June. Dominique Aegerter’s P2 took a joint-career-best, thus a best for Switzerland in WorldSBK. Completing the final front row of 2023, Alex Lowes surged to third for back-to-back front rows for the first time since Barcelona and Portimao last year.

SECOND ROW SHOCKS: Rea rises to P4 ahead of two Independent stars

The second row features strength and surprises with Rea going from fourth after his final Superpole session in green, the 96^th top four Superpole result for him with Kawasaki. His first race with them started with a pole! In fifth place, Remy Gardner will look to achieve a first podium in his rookie season from the middle of the second row, whilst Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) left it late to go sixth, which had a crucial impact on the third row.

HEAVYWEIGHT ROW THREE: Toprak to fight through from P7

Toprak Razgatlioglu missed the front two rows by just 0.060s, so he’s stuck to P7 for Race 1 and the Superpole Race. The third Yamaha in the Superpole classification took his worst Superpole result since he was eighth in Barcelona. Eighth for final round on the grid belongs to Scott Redding, who was pushed back down the order after initially hitting the front row, whilst his 2024 teammate Garrett Gerloff clinched ninth. In his last weekend working with crew chief Andrew Pitt, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) completed the top ten, his joint-worst of the season with Magny-Cours.

NO FAIRYTALE SO FAR: Rinaldi and Bassani fail to deliver on final appearances for their teams

Not ending his factory Ducati chapter on a high in Superpole, Michael Ruben Rinaldi was summoned to the fourth row in P11, one place ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). The fifth row of the grid features Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in 13^th, ahead of Iker Lecuona who could only manage 14^th and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) in 15^th despite finding pace in FP3.

WORK TO DO: Vierge left in 16th

The best of the rest was Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) but still only 16^th, whilst it was a season-best for Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 17^th, one place ahead of Loris Baz. Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) was 19^th, with the top 20 completed by wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing). Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team), teammate Leandro Mercado, wildcard Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) and Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) round out the order.

Top six after WorldSBK Superpole at Jerez, full results here:

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’38.635s

2. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.210s

3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.270s

4. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.272s

5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.326s

6. Phillip Oettl (Team GoEleven) +0.456s

Find out what Bautista needs to do to take the title here and watch in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega’s (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) final FIM Supersport World Championship weekend before he moves to WorldSBK continued to be an impressive one as he took pole position in the Tissot Superpole session by almost six tenths at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. It means he now holds the joint record for poles in a single season as he beat compatriot Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) by 0.587s during the Prometeon Spanish Round.

STORY OF SUPERPOLE: Bulega quickest out of the blocks

The first laps came in with Champion Bulega storming straight to top spot with a 1’42.567s, going six tenths quicker than Caricasulo on their first flying laps. The #11 was the only rider in the 1’42s bracket in the opening stages, and he was able to improve even further on his second lap to a 1’42.130s, although ‘Carica’ did join him in the 1’42s bracket when he set a 1’42.858s on his second lap.

The second stints got underway with around seven minutes left in the session, and the Champion was able to improve to a 1’41.823s, the first leader in the 1’41s, to extend his lead over the #64 to more than nine tenths. The battle for second was heating up, however, between Caricasulo and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). The German rookie had been third before usurping his Italian rival, before the Ducati star responded with a 1’42.633s to reclaim second by 0.057s ahead of the #23. The #64 improved again in the closing stages to a 1’42.410s to close the gap to his rival to around six tenths and secure a front row start.

Bulega’s pole position gave him his 10^th of the season, tying him with Cal Crutchlow and Sebastian Charpentier for the record number of poles in a single season. It’s also his fifth consecutive pole position. For Caricasulo, it was his 39^th front row start in WorldSSP while Schroetter claimed only his second top-three starting position.

SECOND ROW STARTS: can they fight for the podium?

Championship runner-up Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) claimed fourth as he lapped 0.926s slower than the rider who had been his title rival this season, ahead of compatriot Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team). Renewed for 2024 already, the #55 was consistently in the top positions as he claimed fifth, 0.015s slower than the #62. The second row is completed by Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) in sixth, the first rider more than a second away from Bulega’s lap time.

DRAMATIC ENDING TO SUPERPOLE: Sofuoglu crashes but inside the top ten

Home hero Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) missed out on a second row start by two tenths behind compatriot Huertas, with Navarro setting a 1’43.032s. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) took eighth ahead of Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha), with the Frenchman 0.019s behind the Italian. Turkish star Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was tenth despite a late crash. The #54 came off his MV Agusta F3 800 RR at Turn 1 with just a few minutes remaining, bringing out the yellow flags, although he was able to re-join the session; albeit without setting a further lap time.

COMPLETING THE TOP 15: Oncu continues to find form

Dutch rider Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) was 11^th with Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 12^th. The Turk, still building up to full fitness following the injuries sustained earlier in the year, had been strong in FP2 on Friday and carried that on with a fourth-row start, lapping less than a tenth away from compatriot Sofuoglu in tenth. Wildcard Yeray Ruiz (MDR Offitec Yamaha) claimed 13^th with Simone Corsi (Altogo Racing Team) and Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) completing the top 15. However, Corsi will start Race 1 and Race 2 from the pitlane due to a technical infringement in FP2.

HOUSEKEEPING: one event riders impress, returnees struggle

Melvin van der Voort (Team SWPN) was fast on Friday and was 16^th in Superpole on his debut with a 1’43.544s, finishing ahead of Emanuele Pusceddu (J.Angel by Edafos) in 18^th. Alvaro Diaz was drafted in to replace the unfit Nicholas Spinelli at VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha and the #27 took 22^nd despite missing both Friday practice sessions. He was two places behind Apiwath Wongthananon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) as he returns from injury. Debutant Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (D34G Racing) was 30^th ahead of teammate Oli Bayliss, with the Australian on track for the first time since undergoing surgery.

The top six from WorldSSP Superpole, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’41.823s

2. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) +0.587s

3. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.867s

4. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.926s

5. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.941s

6. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) +1.007s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

With sunrise creating picture-postcard shots at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Free Practice 3 was the sound to wake up to in Andalusia on Saturday morning. Dry running was crucial and after the first 30-minute session of the day, it was Champion-elect Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who was on top of the final FP3 session of the year as he starts what could be a title-clinching day.

Bautista not only led the way in FP3 but set the fastest time of the weekend and was one of just two riders in the 1’39 bracket, setting a 1’39.638. He was 0.233s ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Swiss rider in some good form at a track he has an abundance of experience at. Third place went the way of Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who was less than half a second away from top slot. He was just less than a tenth and a half clear of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who is back in form, whilst Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) completed the top five. This weekend will be Bassani’s last with Lorenzo Mauri’s team, whilst Lecuona’s weekend will also be his last with crew chief Pete Jennings despite Iker remaining with the team for next year.

Sixth place went to Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who spent most of the session outside of the top ten on his final weekend of action in green. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was threatening the top six again and up in P7, with the American just ahead of Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven). Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the fourth Ducati, meanwhile, title contender Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) couldn’t improve on his FP2 time and was stuck in tenth during FP3, one place ahead of Friday’s second-fastest rider Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Big names down field included Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in P13, one place ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) – who spent a lot of time lapping together with teammate Toprak – and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) who was just P16.

Top six after WorldSBK FP3, full results here:

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’39.638s

2. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.233s

3. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.455s

4. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +0.593s

5. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +0.629s

6. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.694s

Find out what Bautista needs to do to take the title here and watch in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was the fastest rider on Friday at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto as he finished two tenths clear of his competitors, and three tenths clear of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship title rival Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). After only taking to the track in one of Friday’s two sessions, the #54 was on top as the final Friday of 2023 concluded at the Prometeon Spanish Round.

With damp conditions greeting the WorldSBK field on Friday, with the track not fully dry or fully wet, only four riders set a time in Free Practice 1. The session was topped by late substitute rider Leandro Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team), with the 2021 Champion not venturing onto the circuit for as much as an out lap. It meant all his running was completed in the afternoon Free Practice 2 session, with the track much drier but still with wet patches following overnight rain.

In FP2, the double race winner at Jerez in 2021, WorldSBK’s last visit to the circuit, posted a 1’40.312s to top the standings ahead of Yamaha stablemate Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in second. The 27-year-old was another tenth clear of title rival Bautista, with the Spaniard claiming third spot after a crash during FP2 disrupted his running. Despite his Turn 6 tumble, the #1 completed 20 laps in the second session compared to Razgatlioglu’s 19.

Reflecting on his Friday, the Turkish star said: “The Friday was difficult because nobody rides in FP1, because the track conditions were strange. In FP2, everybody’s riding and I’m feeling less grip. This is not just my problem; all riders are feeling the same. My bike is worse than the others because I’m feeling just spinning, no grip and no turning. We have some positives. I hope we are improving the bike tomorrow; I just need a little bit more grip for good pace. I did a good lap time, but I need good pace. Now, I’m not really strong.”

During his 19 timed laps, the longest stint for the #54 was six laps at the very end of the session when track conditions were at their best for the day and also after a red flag caused by Gabriele Ruiu’s (Bmax Racing) crash. His fastest time came on the second run of this stint, but all the other times were in the low 1’41s bracket, ranging from 1’41.388s to 1’41.015s.

During FP2, the Turk followed his rival on track. Discussing this and outlining his chances of victory, he said: “He’s very strong and this track and I just tried to follow him to understand which areas his bike is very strong. The exit of Turn 5, he’s unbelievably fast. And the last corner exit, there’s a big gap. I’m just trying to find which corner I can catch him. I see this and I understand. I just need a good setup because I feel a lot of spinning. I’m still fighting for the win. I hope tomorrow I feel the bike is much better and first I need a good Superpole, then a good race. I hope I’m fighting like at Portimao; then I’m feeling the bike better and starting to enjoy. I’m focused and hungry to win.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com