Gordon Ritchie | September 23, 2023
WorldSBK Race Two
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led all but one of the 18 laps that constituted WorldSBK Race Two at Motorland Aragon, making up for his Saturday first race crash with a win in the earlier Superpole Race on Sunday and then another victory in Race Two.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) would finish second in the exciting second race – exciting behind runaway dominator Bautista at least – but he had to overcome some tough shifts being put in by other riders.
Most notably, his own team-mate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) was in strong form, sitting in second place all the way until his bike started smoking and he was finally forced to retire. He did not do this as soon as his bike had started giving trouble, however, which saw him make a visit to Race Direction and finally be punished with a 1000 Euro fine and a ‘Back Of Grid’ penalty for his next race.
Alvaro Bautista made up for the race one blunder with the race two win.
Razgatlioglu passed Locatelli as soon as he realised that there was an issue, as he had been saving largely his tyres to wait for the assured arrival of Saturday’s Race One winner…
The person in question, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was unwilling to get too close to Locatelli when he saw smoke coming from the Yamaha, and indeed Rinaldi dropped back, changing his racing lines on his way to another podium finish in third place.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) led the second race for one lap and he was on course for fifth place until Locatelli’s retirement promoted him to fourth. He was unhappy to be off podium in any case, with front and rear grip issues.
Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) was fifth and Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) sixth.
Philipp Öttl (Team GoEleven Ducati) late recovery of form saw him seventh and the official Honda of Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) eighth.
Remy Gardner (GRT Yamaha) was ninth and Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) the top BMW rider in tenth.
The championship is by no means over yet, even after Bautista’s cool-headed salvage job from Saturday’s faux pas. Bautista has 504 points, Razgatlioglu 457 (leaving a gap of 47) Rea has 328 points, Locatelli 275 and Bassani 237.
2023 Aragon WorldSBK Results—WorldSBK Race Two
| 1 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
|
| 2 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) |
+4.064s |
| 3 |
Michael Ruben Rinaldi |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+7.109s |
| 4 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) |
+14.007s |
| 5 |
Axel Bassani |
(Motocorsa Racing) |
+15.270s |
WorldSBK Superpole Race
The ten lap Superpole Race always offered up the best chance for Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) or Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) to outsmart and out-muscle Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at a track with a giant Ducati friendly back straight.
For almost all of the race Bautista was, indeed, behind his rivals.
From pole position Rea was looking fully committed out front as Bautista tried to pass him on lap two, but Rea placed himself wide on the outside to make sure he was level with his rival in the next corner entry, and pushed him wide in T2 – this allowing Razgatlioglu to go past the Ducati and into second place on T3.
It was as close as this all race in the Superpole event.
The three rider fight was the way the sprint races were always envisaged to be, with close battles all the way to the end.
Finally, on the last lap, Bautista passed Razgatlioglu with an audacious move to take over second place.
He settled in behind Rea on the last corner before the long straight, then used his experience and sheer speed to pass Rea – on the outside – after maximising the aerodynamic advantage behind the Kawasaki.
Bautista finally cut over to hold a fast yet defensive line in the final corner, giving Rea no chance to fight back no matter how he tried.
Razgatlioglu was third – using a Q rear tyre – with the top three covered by just 0.475 seconds.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) was fourth – again – with Race One winner on Saturday, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), fifth.
Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) placed sixth on his Honda, replicating his grid position.
Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) was right behind his team-mate. Philipp Öttl (Team GoEleven Ducati) was eighth, with Independent riders Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and Remy Gardner (GRT Yamaha) completing the top ten.
2023 Aragon WorldSBK Results—WorldSBK Superpole Race
| 1 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
|
| 2 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) |
+0.179s |
| 3 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) |
+0.296s |
| 4 |
Andrea Locatelli |
(Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) |
+5.013s |
| 5 |
Michael Ruben Rinaldi |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+6.013s |
WorldSSP Race Two
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba Racing Ducati) made another start-to-finish disappearing act at Motorland Aragon, to finish 2.160 seconds ahead of the only rider chasing him in the championship, Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha).
Bulega was in a position to win the title for the first time this season after a tough 11th place for his lone rival Manzi on Saturday. But, the gap is still 85 points between them, with a maximum 100 left to score in the next two rounds for any rider who wins all four races.
The sunny Sunday race was halted one lap early after a fast crash from Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph). He hit the trackside barrier at speed, if at an oblique angle, after he lost traction, almost highsided and was then forced off the circuit to the inside of the corner in a highly unusual kind of fall. He was transported to the medical centre for checks.
Nicolo Bulega continued to steamroll them in WorldSSP.
In third place in the red flagged and finally 14-lap race, Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Ducati) made it an all-Italian rider podium, but fourth placed Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR) and fifth placed Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) added the first elements of national variety.
Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) equalled his person best so far with sixth place at his home round, beating Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha).
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) had to start from the back of the grid to serve a low tyre pressure penalty, but fought back to finish eighth.
The second race top ten was rounded out by Raffaele De Rosa (Ducati Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Nicolas Spinelli (VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha). Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing Kawasaki) was top WorldSSP Challenge rider, in 11th place.
2023 Aragon WorldSBK Results—WorldSSP Race Two
| 1 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) |
|
| 2 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Ten Kate Racing WorldSSP) |
+2.284s |
| 3 |
Federico Caricasulo |
(Althea Racing Team) |
+3.076s |
| 4 |
Bahattin Sofuoglu |
(MV Agusta Reparto Corse) |
+3.935s |
| 5 |
Marcel Schroetter |
(MV Agusta Reparto Corse) |
+4.418s |
WorldSSP Race One
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba Racing Ducati) made a great leap toward grasping the 2023 WorldSSP championship title after he won the first race at Motorland Aragon – and saw his championship rival Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) finish only 11th, after running off track on the final lap.
Bulega had checked-out up front and early to win almost unopposed, but the podium fight on the last lap saw eventual second place rider Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Manzi collide and the R6 rider run off track. He re-entered, by only finished 11th.
The last podium spot went to Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati).
P1 for Bulega in race one.
Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Ducati) placed fourth, Raffaele De Rosa (Ducati Orelac Racing VerdNatura) fifth and – making it an all-Italian sextet – Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR) was sixth on the second three cylinder MV.
Seventh place was taken by home town rider Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) after Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Yamaha) was penalised for exceeding the track limits on the final lap.
Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) was top Street Triple RS rider while Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) went from double podium man at Magny Cours in his home round to tenth in Race One at Motorland Aragon.
In the championship fight, Bulega now leads Manzi by 80 points, with just five rounds and a maximum of 125 points left to go as of Saturday night in Motorland.
2023 Aragon WorldSBK Results—WorldSSP Race One
| 1 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) |
|
| 2 |
Marcel Schroetter |
(MV Agusta Reparto Corse) |
+3.581s |
| 3 |
Yari Montella |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
+4.106s |
| 4 |
Federico Caricasulo |
(Althea Racing Team) |
+4.306s |
| 5 |
Raffaele De Rosa |
(Orelac Racing VerdNatura) |
+5.830s |
WorldSBK Race One
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had not one but two crashes in the opening 18-lap WorldSBK Race at Motorland Aragon, throwing the door of opportunity open for the only championship challenger still capable of hauling him back – Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team).
In the end it was the slightly slower-starting Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) that would make up for his team-mate’s two errors and falls by winning his first WorldSBK Race since 2021.
The irony of him being ‘let go’ by Ducati for 2024 just recently, and then Rinaldi winning a straight fight between second placed Razgatlioglu and eventual third placed race leader and pole man Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) was lost on no-one. With his immediate racing future not quite secured yet, this may be an important win for more than just the 25 points Rinaldi earned for it.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi took a memorable win in race one.
Bautista fell while in a clear lead, losing the front in the downhill chicane. He got going again to catch up and temporarily to the final points scorers, only to fall at the first apex of the fast final corner and score no points whatsoever.
In the championship Bautista is a very catchable 37 points ahead of Razgatlioglu, and would be even further back but for the exploits of his soon-to-be ex-team-mate Rinaldi.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) was fourth, some three seconds behind Rea.
One of the stories of the race, which came as a package deal with many unfolding stories, was the pace of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) coming through from his starting position of dead last after crashing without setting a time in Superpole qualifying.
His charge through to fifth was remarkable in its speed and he was also the top Independent rider.
Philipp Öttl (Team GoEleven Ducati) was sixth, recording one of his career best finishing positions, with Remy Gardner (GRT Yamaha) seventh and Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and top BMW rider.
Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) was only ninth and Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) tenth after suffering a double long lap penalty for jump starting.
Two more races on Sunday at Motorland.
2023 Aragon WorldSBK Results—WorldSBK Race One
| 1 |
Michael Ruben Rinaldi |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
|
| 2 |
Toprak Razgatlioglu |
(Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) |
+1.253s |
| 3 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) |
+2.837s |
| 4 |
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) |
+5.902s |
|
| 5 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
+7.553s |
Friday WorldSBK
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) headed up the time sheets on the first day of action at Motorland Aragon, as three Ducati riders held the others off the virtual rostrum positions.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was second quickest, just 0.077 seconds behind his team-mate, while the ever-improving Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) was third. Petrux was the top Independent rider on Friday.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) was fastest in the morning session at Motorland but ended up fourth overall – and the first of the non Ducati V4-R riders at a track he has won at nine times in the past.
Another P1 for Bautista on Friday.
Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) was fifth, despite a fall in FP2. He was one of the few riders not to improve his personal best lap time in the afternoon session.
Magny Cours Superpole ‘winner’ Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was sixth while Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) was seventh, at a circuit he has never won a race at before.
Xavi Vierge (HRC Honda) placed eighth and like his team-mate Lecuona he relied on his FP1 time for his final aggregate placing.
Dominique Aegerter (GRT Yamaha) was ninth on an Independent R1 and the factory machine of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) completed the first day top ten at a bright and sunny – if quite windy – Motorland Aragon.
Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 15th on Friday. He had to be cleared to ride after a domestic accident with a ladder saw him hurt his ribs and suffer a cut on the top of his left middle finger.
2023 Aragon WorldSBK Results—Friday WorldSBK
| 1 |
Alvaro Bautista |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati |
1:49.649s |
| 2 |
Michael Ruben Rinaldi |
(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) |
+ 0.077s |
| 3 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(Barni Spark Racing Team) |
+ 0.176s |
| 4 |
Jonathan Rea |
(Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) |
+ 0.321s |
| 5 |
Iker Lecuona |
(Team HRC) |
+ 0.799s |
Friday WorldSSP
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba Racing Ducati) put himself 0.187 seconds in front of his closest challenger after one day of WorldSSP practice at Motorland Aragon, with only his fellow Ducati rider Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Ducati) for relatively close company.
Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) placed third, with his own team-mate Jorge Navarro an early fourth at his home round.
Nicolo Bulega topped WorldSSP on Friday.
Once again the top Kawasaki rider, Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) was fifth, making him the second best placed Spanish rider. He had to rely on his FP1 time to break into the top five, and was one of only two riders in the entire field to do so.
Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was sixth, with the cosmopolitan makeup of the 2023 championship being highlighted by Niki Tuuli’s seventh place on his PTR Street Triple RS Triumph. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) was eighth fastest and the first rider just over a second from the leading time.
Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR) was ninth and Raffaele De Rosa (Ducati Orelac Racing VerdNatura) tenth.
2023 Aragon WorldSSP Results—Friday WorldSSP
| 1 |
Nicolo Bulega |
(Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) |
1:53.671s |
| 2 |
Federico Caricasulo |
(Althea Racing Team) |
+0.187s |
| 3 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) |
+0.295s |
| 4 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) |
+0.466s |
| 5 |
Adrian Huertas |
(MTM Kawasaki) |
+0.748s |
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