In a thrilling showdown at the Jerez season finale, Alvaro Bautista has been crowned the 2023 World Superbike Champion after an impressive display of skill and dominance.Â
The Aruba.it Ducati rider claimed his 26th victory of the season, securing his second consecutive World Superbike Championship Riders' title in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
Bautista's remarkable season has been characterized by his overwhelming dominance, with an extraordinary 25 victories leading up to the Jerez finale. However, it was in the first race of the event that he solidified his championship status, fending off a determined Toprak Razgatlioglu in a dramatic contest.
The Jerez showdown began with Bautista resisting Razgatlioglu's early charges, maintaining a grip on the race. Razgatlioglu, starting from the third row, showcased his skill by swiftly climbing to fourth place by the end of the first lap. He then surged past the factory Kawasaki riders to reach second place, setting his sights on Bautista.
As the race unfolded, Razgatlioglu couldn't quite bridge the gap to Bautista, despite displaying quicker pace through the challenging sections of the circuit. Bautista's exceptional performance culminated in a lights-to-flag victory, securing both the race win and the 2023 World Superbike riders' title.
While Razgatlioglu claimed second place, Andrea Locatelli demonstrated his prowess by surging from a tenth-place starting position to secure the final spot on the podium. The Italian rider showcased his skills as he overtook a fading Kawasaki contingent during the race.
Jonathan Rea held on for a commendable fourth place, managing to escape a fierce battle for fifth between Philipp Oettl and Danilo Petrucci, two satellite Ducati riders who displayed exceptional pace in the closing stages. Petrucci eventually clinched the fifth position, further strengthening his hopes in the battle for the independents' title.
The race wasn't without its share of drama, with Michael Ruben Rinaldi being penalized with a long lap penalty after a contentious encounter with Axel Bassani. Rinaldi's actions led to Bassani's rare Did Not Finish (DNF) and intensified the rivalry between the two in the fight for fifth place in the overall standings.
The challenging race also saw notable contenders facing setbacks, with GYTR GRT Yamaha riders Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter out of contention due to various issues. Garrett Gerloff's crash from the tenth position added to the race's unpredictability.
In the end, Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge completed the top ten for Honda, while Puccetti Kawasaki, using a factory-spec Kawasaki ZX-10RR, achieved its best result of the season with Tito Rabat securing 11th place. Lorenzo Baldassarri also recorded a personal best finish of 12th on the GMT94 Yamaha.
The remaining points-paying positions were claimed by Loris Baz, Garrett Gerloff, and Hafizh Syahrin, rounding out the top 15 finishers in a race that showcased the exceptional talent and fierce competition in the 2023 World Superbike Championship.
Race 1 Results at WSBK Jerez, Spain:
1 Alvaro Bautista Aruba Ducati - 20 Laps
2 Toprak Razgatlioglu Pata Crescent Racing Yamaha +1.195
3 Andrea Locatelli Pata Crescent Racing Yamaha +9.071
4 Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki +10.065
5 Danilo Petrucci Barni Spark Racing Ducati +10.661
6 Philipp Oettl Go Eleven Ducati +11.538
7 Alex Lowes Kawasaki Racing Team +12.152
8 Michael Ruben Rinaldi Aruba Ducati +18.148
9 Iker Lecuona Team HRC Honda +20.639
10 Xavi Vierge Team HRC Honda +23.671
11 Tito Rabat Puccetti Racing Kawasaki +24.827
12 Lorenzo Baldassarri GMT 94 Yamaha +27.061
13 Loris Baz Bonovo Racing BMW +39.299
14 Garrett Gerloff Bonovo Racing BMW +39.983
15 Hafizh Syahrin Petronas MIE Racing Honda +56.614