WorldSBK Estoril: Aegerter recovers for WorldSSP race one win

Ten Kate Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter recovered from a poor start to claim the opening WorldSSP race victory by three seconds in Estoril.

Evan Bros. Yamaha’s Lorenzo Baldassarri secured second after a fight through the pack from seventh with Nicolo Bulega completing the podium celebrations on his Ducati debut at the Portuguese track.

Sighting lap drama found Stefano Manzi off track with a technical issue on the Dynavolt Triumph before the Italian had even made the grid ahead of the 18-lap race. Aegerter taking his position on pole after a record-breaking performance in the morning’s qualifying.

Bulega took the holeshot on the Aruba Panigale V2 with GMT94’s Jules Cluzel slotting into second ahead of Aegerter. Glenn van Straalen coming under immediate pressure on the EAB R6 from Puccetti Kawasaki’s Can Öncü as Bulega ran wide on his way to fifth. Cluzel capitalised out front with Aegerter up to second. Peter Sebestyen crashing the second Evan Bros machine out at turn six.

The second lap saw Öncü through to the lead from third with Aegerter maintaining his second position. Cluzel defending from van Straalen and a hard charging Federico Caricasulo as the Italian bettered his countryman on the Althea Ducati. Baldassarri circulating seventh in the opening stages with Puccetti’s Yari Montella, MTM’s Adrian Huertas and MV Agusta’s Niki Tuuli completing the top ten.

Bulega battled Caricasulo for the top five as lap three began. Öncü leading an intensely matched trio out front with less than two-tenths covering the fight as Cluzel settled into fourth, half second adrift.

Aegerter had a brief look at the lead before the Puccetti hit back with a hard breaking move characteristic of his mentor Toprak Razgatlioglu. Hannes Soomer