Bautista seals Phillip Island hat-trick

WSBK world champion Alvaro Bautista continued his imperious form in Australia, winning Sunday's race 2 at a canter.

The most pressure the Spaniard felt all race was heading into turn one, where teammate Micahel Ruben Rinaldi was hot on his heels, but after that, Bautista disappeared into the distance. 22 laps later, he crossed the finish line in splendid isolation, a full six seconds ahead of Rinaldi.

The rest of the field was seemingly involved in a different race altogether. Andrea Locatelli enjoyed a fast start, moving up from fifth to third, which he defended until the checkered flag.

The first major incident of the season came when Alex Lowes went down in turn four, losing the front of his Kawasaki, leaving Toprak Razgatlioglu with nowhere else to go. Both riders were sent off the track and out of the race.

Former world champion Jonathan Rea continued to struggle, being bested by Philipp Oettl and then Iker Lecuona late in the race, pushing him down to eighth.

RESULTS

1 Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.It Racing Ducati 22 Laps

2 Michael Rinaldi ITA Aruba.It Racing Ducati +6.191s

3 Andrea Locatelli ITA PATA Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK +9.099s

4 Axel Bassani ITA Motocorsa Ducati +11.680s

5 Philipp Oettl GER GoEleven Ducati +12.020s

6 Iker Lecuona SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +13.701s

7 Dominique Aegerter SWI GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +14.316s

8 Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +14.753s

9 Danilo Petrucci ITA Barni Spark Ducati Team +18.745s

10 Remy Gardner AUS GRT Yamaha +21.331s

11 Xavi Vierge SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +21.500s