Razgat fires, Bautista stumbles but Mother Nature wins in Italy
RACE 1
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had some tricky moments in the first 19-lap race at Imola but overcame them all to pass long-time leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) and ease away in the final few laps to win by 3.672 seconds.
The Imola opener witnessed Alvaro’s 17th win in 19 races so far this season; second for Toprak was his 100th career podium ride in WorldSBK.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) made progress from seventh on the grid to take a podium, although he was unable to keep Bautista behind him beyond the early laps.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) was a committed early race leader but was finally overcome by the championship’s traditional big three riders and had to settle for fourth place, 13.5 seconds back from Bautista.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) came through from eighth on the grid to fifth, despite his injured ankle.
In sixth place, and the top independent rider on the day, was Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati). With early podium rider Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) seventh, there were four Ducatis in the top seven places at Ducati’s almost literal home circuit.
Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) rounded out the top ten places. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha) was 11th in his first WorldSBK ride at Imola.
Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing. WorldSBK Team) was sixth on the grid but faded to finish 15th, scoring one point in a race where there were eight non-finishers.
SUPERPOLE RACE
At one of his favourite circuits Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) found the pace and the will to win, for his third Superpole race victory of the season.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) would finish second, still trying for the win until he realised Razgatlioglu would not be denied, losing only three points in the championship race with one more race to take part in at Imola.
Third was the front runner for five laps, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team), holding off the close attentions of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) by just a couple of tenths.
Bautista had passed Razgatlioglu on lap five, and then took the lead one lap later.
He would hold it for three laps, as Razgatlioglu struggled to get past Locatelli for a short time, visibly frustrated to not be able to get to Bautista out in front.
Once behind Bautista he closed in and passed to lead across the line for the final two laps, winning by 0.244 seconds.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made it past Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati) for fifth place.
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) placed seventh, just behind Bassani, one place up on Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati).
Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) completed the top ten, with Remy Gardner (GRT Yamaha) 11th.
The final Imola WorldSBK race was reduced to 15 laps due to concerns about the punishing heat and humidity the riders would have to face around the intense Imola layout. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team) took advantage of a first lap fall from championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to take his second win of the day, and his first ‘feature’ race win of the season.
Bautista fell on the entry to the second part of the Tamburello Chicane on lap one, drawing gasps of disbelief and opening up a world of possibilities for his rivals.
One time race leader, after pushing to the top spot with eight laps to go, proved to eventual second placed rider Axel Bassani (MotoCorsa Racing Ducati). His sixth career podium was his second runner-up spot in WorldSBK, and it could have been a win except for the pure talent and determination of the more experienced Razgatlioglu.
In third place was Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team). Despite not having the same drive available exiting corners as the leading duo, he was still a clear third ahead of the chasing Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Team).
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) placed fifth, while a brilliant ride from BSB Champion Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing. WorldSBK Team) saw him finish sixth, 12 seconds from the race win.
Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) won a personal battle with Scott Redding (ROKit BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) for seventh place.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Ducati) was ninth and Iker Lecuona (HRC Honda) tenth.
Six riders did not finish.
In the championship points, Bautista is now 70 ahead of Razgatlioglu, 391 to 321. Locatelli is still third, with 208, Rea is fourth on 201 and Bassani is fifth on 179.
Report Gordon Ritchie Photography Gold&Goose