Misano WorldSBK: Bautista heads double Ducati podium

Alvaro Bautista secured his fifth win of the 2022 season on Aruba.it Ducati’s home soil after a dominant performance at Misano World Circuit.

The Spaniard completed his pole, circuit record and victory set with the fastest race lap record on the 18th of 21 around the 4.2km on his way to a five-second win. Teammate Michael Rinaldi continued the team’s celebrations with the final podium position, three seconds behind KRT’s Jonathan Rea.

Bautista commanded the WorldSBK grid for the first time since Argentina 2019, firmly cementing his successful return to the Ducati fold at the manufacturer’s only home round this season. Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Rea completed the front row with the second riders from the top three teams locking out the row behind, headed by Alex Lowes.

Track temperatures of 45℃ greeted the pack as the lights released, Razgatlioglu grabbing the holeshot from Bautista and Rea with Lowes maintaining his fourth position ahead of a trio of Italians. Rinaldi was through on the second KRT machine for fourth as the lap unfolded with Motocorsa’s Axel Bassani doing likewise shortly after, the top trio battling hard from the off.

The reigning champion held fast at the front as lap two began, Lowes dropping to eighth after Andrea Locatelli pushed him wide and Xavi Vierge swept through to capitalise. GRT Yamaha’s Garett Gerloff and Bonovo BMW’s Loris Baz completed the top ten after two laps of action.

Rea took charge with an aggressive move up the inside at turn nine next time around. The leading group holding seven riders as Bassani got his claws into the front runners. Bautista struck for second through Curvone with Bassani now just a tenth off Razgatlioglu in the battle for third.

Philipp Oettl’s strong