WorldSBK Catalunya: Bautista completes perfect set at home

Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista celebrated a perfect treble on home soil with a commanding victory in Sunday’s final WorldSBK race at Barcelona.

While the Spaniard claimed his first clean sweep since 2019, the party continued for the Bologna factory as Michael Rinaldi completed the set in second. Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu taking his first podium of the weekend, in third.

The final feature race of the Catalan weekend kicked off with Bautista in pole position following his Superpole victory earlier in the day. Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes back on the front row but in reverse order compared to the previous clash with reigning champion Razgatlioglu behind in fourth.

Lights out and Bautista maintained control from his hard-charging teammate as Rinaldi arrived in second. Rea and Razgatlioglu battling for third as Lowes dropped to fifth with Honda’s Xavi Vierge behind in sixth.

Lowes’ successful weekend came to an early conclusion as the Brit slid out at turn ten, Scott Redding down on the BMW four corners later - and sent to the medical centre for checks on his bruised chest.

Ducati locked out the lead as Bautista held a second’s advantage over Rinaldi with Rea advancing hard on the Aruba’s wheels. Motocorsa’s Axel Bassani picking off Razgatlioglu for fourth as the second Pata Yamaha of Andrea Locatelli led Honda’s Iker Lecuona, GoEleven’s Philipp Oettl and Bonovo’s Loris Baz in the top ten.

Rea was into second as lap three began. Rinaldi hitting back at turn four as Locatelli became the next victim of the hot Barcelona circuit, from seventh.

Bassani was in podium contention as he dispatched the Kawasaki into the path of his title-rival. The Honda duo narrowly behind with second to nine covered by just