Gordon Ritchie | March 5, 2023
Sunday WorldSBK Race Two
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) secured his fifth win of the 2023 season, by just 1.218 seconds, from Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) after what was another stopped and restarted WorldSBK race at Mandalika.
In a giant boost for the often beleagured HRC Honda WorldSBK project, Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) took advantage of other riders’ misfortune for his first-ever WorldSBK podium finish, but rode hard and well to get to within 3.050 seconds of Bautista in hot and steamy conditions.
Bautista made up for the Superpole race crash with the Race Two win.
The second WorldSBK race of the day, which was delayed in starting by five minutes, lasted until Michael van der Mark (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) fell and the following Philipp Öttl (Team GoEleven Ducati) collided with his bike, making the track surface unsafe.
VDM required medical attention, for what turned out to be a fractured finger.
The restarted race was finally run over 14 laps, with Bautista closing in on long time leader, and his own team-mate, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Rinaldi was to run on near the end, and finally finish fourth, leaving Bautista with one less task to do to make sure he won again and extended his championship lead.
Razgatlioglu and Vierge both hauled past Rinaldi before the flag.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) was fifth, his first off-podium ride of the weekend in what has been a strong start in general to his season.
Vierge clung on for his first-ever WorldSBK podium.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) was sixth, and top Independent in this race. A much-recovered Remy Gardner seventh after his bout of gastroenteritis and Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) placed eighth.
Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) and earlier red flagged race crasher Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) rounded out the top ten.
Superpole Race podium man Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was a disappointed 13th after losing so much front tyre grip, as he had to use the same tyres as he had on in the red-flagged first few laps.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) crashed while in fifth place, and eventually no scored in a disastrous weekend by his standards.
In the early stages of the championship fight, Bautista leads with 112 points, Razgatlioglu is now second with 75, Locatelli third on 70 points. Bassani is fourth – and top Independent – with 51.
Next Round Assen, between 21-23 April.
2023 Thailand WorldSBK Results—Race Two
| 1 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Duc) |
|
| 2 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Yam) |
+ 1.218s |
| 3 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Hon) |
+ 3.050s |
| 4 |
M. Ruben Rinaldi |
(Duc) |
+ 4.068s |
| 5 |
Andrea Locatelli |
(Yam) |
+ 4.848 |
Sunday WorldSSP Race Two
Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Ducati) was made to play a waiting game but ended his Mandalika weekend with the Race Two win, his first of the season and his first since Portimao in 2019, on a Yamaha.
In a race with waxing and waning fortunes for the top riders, Caricasulo ambushed Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) on the final lap.
In hot conditions, Manzi went from fifth on lap one to second place at the flag, having looked like the winner near the end. Caricasulo had other ideas, and enough pace, to overturn that plan.
Caricasulo’s win was his first in four long years.
Nicolo Beluga (Aruba Racing Ducati) was the leader for two laps, then looked done and dusted for an off podium place after dropping to fourth. With three laps to go he passed eventual fourth place rider Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), as the Kawasaki rider – and Saturday race winner – found his setup not suited to the hotter track conditions on Sunday.
Marcel Schrotter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was fifth, just over six seconds from the win, but there was no Saturday podium repeat for Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph Street Triple RS) on Sunday, as he finished sixth in Race Two.
Raffaele De Rosa (Ducati Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was seventh and WorldSSP rookie Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) eighth.
Nicolas Spinelli (VFT Racing Yamaha) and Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR) completed the top ten.
In the points, after two rounds and four races, Bulega has 77, Manzi 59. Öncü 54, Caricasulo 51, Tuuli 46 and Schoetter the same total, but ranked sixth. Five manufacturers in the top six so far.
2023 Thailand WorldSSP Results—Race Two
| 1 |
Federico Caricasulo |
(Duc) |
|
| 2 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Yam) |
+ 0.325s |
| 3 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Duc) |
+ 1.546s |
| 4 |
Can Oncu |
(Kaw) |
+ 3.148s |
| 5 |
Marcel Schroetter |
(MV) |
+ 6.199s |
Sunday WorldSBK Superpole Race
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) put in one of his classic front-running wins to give him his first race victory of 2023, in what was a finally an eight lap WorldSBK Superpole race.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) placed second and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was third, taking his first podium of 2023.
A full drama first attempted start to the sprint race saw Razgatlioglu lead, but behind, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati), Alex Lowes and finally Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) were all involved in what turnd out to be a hard crash for Lowes and Baz.
Razgatlioglu led home teammate Locatelli for a Yamaha one-two in the Superpole race.
Baz got back to the pits, Lowes’ bike was too extensively damaged to continue. He was allowed to restart on his spare bike, which was hurriedly prepared and approved by the FIM inspectors.
On the restart Razgatlioglu was again out front, with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) chasing him.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) pushed past Rinaldi to go into third place, then on lap four he overtook the 2022 champion Bautista. As as both got on the power on the corner exit, Bautista crashed out and Rea’s rear end spun up, causing him to slow and allowing the following Locatelli and Lowes to flash past into podium places they would keep until the end.
Lowes had earlier been involved in another incident with Baz in the restart. Committing to go inside the French rider into Turn 10, when Baz’s leg came out to ‘dangle’ under braking Lowes’ bike made contact and Baz’s leg got caught in it. The BMW rider suffered a right proximal fibula and right ankle fracture, and is now going for final diagnostic scans.
With Rea fourth at the flag, top Independent rider was Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) in fifth place.
Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) was sixth, Rinaldi seventh (having changed to a harder SCO tyre after the first attempted running), and Race One top six finisher, Michael van der Mark (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) eighth.
Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Dominique Aegerter (GRT Yamaha) completed the top ten, but Petruci was awarded the tenth place finish after Aegerter was demoted one place for irresponsible riding.
Declared fit on Sunday morning, gastroenteritis sufferer Remy Gardner (GRT Yamaha) was 14th.
2023 Thailand WorldSBK Results—Superpole Race
| 1 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Yam) |
|
| 2 |
Andrea Locatelli |
(Yam) |
+ 1.110s |
| 3 |
Alex Lowes |
(Kaw) |
+ 1.372s |
| 4 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Kaw) |
+ 3.073s |
| 5 |
Axel Bassani |
(Duc) |
+ 3.234s |
Saturday WorldSBK Race One
Pole sitter Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) led the opening WorldSBK Race of the Mandalika weekend but it was to be the patiently waiting Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who would hit the front after five laps and then ease out to win by 4.809 seconds.
With Razgatlioglu the runner-up, and with potential podium rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) a faller at the very first corner, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) was a very worthy third. He had to overcoming the early attack of one-time second-place rider, Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) to take his podium place. Bassani was fourth.
Bautista’s win in race one means he’s unbeaten so far in 2023.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) had his best WorldSBK showing yet, in fifth, 11 seconds from the factory bike of Bautista.
Michael van der Mark (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) led a loose but combative group across the line, with Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda), Dominique Aegerter (GRT Yamaha), Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) completing the top ten.
Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) retired in the pits.
2023 Thailand WorldSBK Results—Race One
| 1 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Duc) |
|
| 2 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Yam) |
+ 4.809s |
| 3 |
Andrea Locatelli |
(Yam) |
+ 6.586s |
| 4 |
Axel Bassani |
(Duc) |
+ 8.871s |
| 5 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Duc) |
+ 11.667s |
Saturday WorldSSP Race One
Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) took the lead on the opening lap of WorldSSP Race One at Mandalika and pushed on to take a one second advantage over a three rider chasing group after lap two. This was Öncü’s first WorldSSP race win, after scoring 12 previous podiums.
A sudden light fall of rain just before the start presented a dilemma for all, but slicks were the universal choice as the rain soon passed overhead, after making some areas of the track wet for a short time.
Can Oncu finally scored his long-awaited win in WorldSSP.
Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph Street Triple RS) initially broke away from the second group but it would end up as a two-rider fight for the runner-up spot, with Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Ducati) finally second at the flag and Tuuli third.
Marcel Schrotter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was a clear fourth, but another instant 2023 WorldSSP talent, Nicolas Spinelli (VFT Racing Yamaha), fell from a strong position and no-scored.
Nicolo Beluga (Aruba Racing Ducati) was fastest man pre-race but only sixth, also tangling with Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Yamaha), who would fall but restart to finish 11th.
In seventh, finally, Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) went forward and backward during a tight race in the midfield, heading up the effective Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) by 4.5 seconds.
Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR) was ninth and – still with no ride-by-wire throttle – PI podium finisher John McPhee (Vince64 Kawasaki) was tenth. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE MS Racing Honda Team) was 14th, and top Honda rider.
One more race on Sunday before a long break in WorldSSP competition.
2023 Thailand WorldSSP Results—Race One
| 1 |
Can Oncu |
(Kaw) |
|
| 2 |
Federico Caricasulo |
(Duc) |
+ 3.305s |
| 3 |
Niki Tuuli |
(Tri) |
+ 4.172s |
| 4 |
Marcel Schroetter |
(MV) |
+ 7.813s |
| 5 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Duc) |
+ 11.558s |
Saturday WorldSBK Superpole
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) secured the best pre-race qualifying lap for the second weekend in succession, taking pole in Mandalika, just as he had in Phillip Island last weekend. Mandalika is one of his favourite circuits, of course.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team), Toprak’s team-mate, put himself into second place with a time just 0.069 slower than the 2021 champion – on a track with still just one narrow, grippy racing line.
PI triple race winner Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third, for the last front row slot.
All is normal for Toprak Razgatlioglu after taking the Superpole win.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), despite running wide on a fast lap, was fourth, leading a second row that will also feature Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and a resurgent Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW).
Quick FP3 rider in the morning session, Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati), was not quite as relatively quick once again on a qualifying set-up. Once more. He finished up just off the second row, in seventh place.
Another strong showing by the Ducati hordes saw Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) eighth. The second factory Kawasaki of Alex Lowes was ninth, for a third row start. Michael van der Mark (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) completed the top ten, with Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) best Honda in 13th place.
2023 Thailand WorldSBK Results—Superpole
| 1 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Yam) |
1:32.037s |
| 2 |
Andrea Locatelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.069s |
| 3 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Duc) |
+ 0.165s |
| 4 |
M. Ruben Rinaldi |
(Duc) |
+ 0.505s |
| 5 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Kaw) |
+ 0.513s |
Friday WorldSBK
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put in not one but two class-leading showings on day one of the track action for WorldSBK at Mandalika, heading up both FP1 and FP2 at the 2.6 mile long Mandalika circuit on the Indonesian Island of Lombok.
On a day when every single rider set a better time in the afternoon session than the morning, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was second, just 0.029 from Rinaldi – who had fallen in the morning session before going on to lead it. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) placed third, 0.157 seconds from Rinaldi.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi showed his teammate the way around Mandalika on Friday with P1.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) was fourth fastest although 0.7 seconds behind Rinaldi.
Michael van der Mark (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was fifth, very close to Rea’s best time, with Yamaha Independent rider Remy Gardner (GRT Yamaha) sixth. He was easily the fastest ‘privateer’ on day one at Lombok.
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) placed seventh and was the last rider inside a second of Rinald’s pace.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team), Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) and Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) completed the top ten riders on day one.
2023 Thailand WorldSBK Results—Friday
| 1 |
M. Ruben Rinaldi |
(Duc) |
1:32.468s |
| 2 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Duc) |
+ 0.030s |
| 3 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Yam) |
+ 0.157s |
| 4 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Kaw) |
+ 0.735s |
| 5 |
M. van der Mark |
(BMW) |
+ 0.745s |
Friday WorldSSP
At a hot and steamy Mandalika, opening round double winner Nicolo Beluga (Aruba Racing Ducati) headed up the 21 WorldSSP riders on day one of free practice, with a 1’36.705 lap time.
A late charge from Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) saw him overhaul Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph Street Triple RS) for second place. The Turkish rider was just 0.024 seconds from Bulega.
Instantly fast 2023 WorldSSP rider Marcel Schrotter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was fourth on Friday.
Bulega was once again untouchable in WorldSSP.
Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was a faller, without injury, with ten minutes to go, dropping him to an eventual fifth place. Five different machines in the top five places.
Seasoned WorldSSP force Raffaele De Rosa (Ducati Orelac Racing VerdNatura) placed sixth, with another Italian Ducati rider, Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Ducati), seventh.
WorldSSP rookie Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) continued his learning process at a good pace, in eighth overall, with fellow Yamaha riders Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Yamaha) and Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) completing the top ten.
Several riders never made it into the required 105 percent of the fastest rider’s lap time in the morning session, when the track was still quite green and slippery and the times were subsequently slow for all.
In the grippier afternoon session, all the riders qualified inside 105 percent of Bulega’s fastest lap.
2023 Thailand WorldSSP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Duc) |
1:36.705s |
| 2 |
Can Oncu |
(Kaw) |
+ 0.024s |
| 3 |
Niki Tuuli |
(Tri) |
+ 0.046s |
| 4 |
Marcel Schroetter |
(MV) |
+ 0.079s |
| 5 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Yam) |
+ 0.161s |
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