Alvaro Bautista left it late, but he was able to overhaul Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea on the final lap to win Sunday's WSBK Aragon Superpole Race.
Despite the chaotic start, it was honours-even in the opening corners, with Rea leading Bautista and Razgatlioglu. Rea fended off challenges at the end of the lap to hold the lead.
On the second lap, Razgatlioglu's pressure on Bautista saw the Spaniard switch his focus to defending, letting Rea grow a small lead, which didn't last long. Some distance behind the leading trio, Andrea Locatelli led Race 1 winner Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Iker Lecuona.
Bautista's Ducati was sliding all over the place through the corners, bringing Razgatlioglu into play, but then the Ducati would power off into the distance on the straights.
Rea was way off the racing line defending his lead into Turn 1 on lap five, but Bautista was unable to capitalise. The next lap, Bautista eked ahead but Rea slipped back in front in the opening corners, with the battle bringing Razgatlioglu into second amid the chaos.
There was some incredible racing, with the trio sometimes three abreast down the main straight, but the status quo remained.
But finally on the last lap, Bautista was immense, sliding through on Razgatlioglu early on, then pipping Rea down the back straight to earn a hard-fought victory.
Brilliantly timed from @19Bautista to take the lead in the final sector and SECURE THE VICTORY!!! 🏆 #AragonWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/x42lkQl02P
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 24, 2023
🏁 FINAL RESULTS of #WorldSBK Superpole Race 📊
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 24, 2023
🥇 @19bautista
🥈 @jonathanrea
🥉 @toprak_tr54 #AragonWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/TY6xVeP0f4
SUPERPOLE RESULTS
1 Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.It Racing Ducati 10 Laps
2 Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +0.179s
3 Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +0.475s
4 Andrea Locatelli ITA Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +5.013s
5 Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.It Racing Ducati +6.013s
6 Iker Lecuona SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +7.024s
7 Xavi Vierge SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +8.592s
8 Philipp Oettl GER GoEleven Ducati +9.384s
9 Garrett Gerloff USA Bonovo Action BMW +9.740s
10 Remy Gardner AUS GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +10.103s
11 Scott Redding GBR ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team +10.279s
12 Danilo Petrucci ITA Barni Spark Racing Team +10.405s
13 Michael Van Der Mark NED ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team +15.185s
14 Dominique Aegerter SWI GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +15.300s
15 Axel Bassani ITA Motocorsa Ducati +15.699s
16 Florian Marino FRA Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +20.947s
17 Tito Rabat SPA Puccetti Kawasaki +23.827s
18 Bradley Ray GBR Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team +27.934s
19 Hafizh Syahrin MAL PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing +28.005s
20 Isaac Vinales SPA TPR by Vinales Racing +29.003s
21 Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA GMT94 Yamaha +34.311s
22 Oliver Konig CZE Orelac Racing Kawasaki +42.997s
23 Eric Granado BRA PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing DNF
24 Gabriele Ruiu ITA Bmax Racing BWM DNF
25 Loris Baz FRA Bonovo Action BMW DNF