WorldSBK Phillip Island: Aegerter wins as Cluzel bids farewell to WorldSSP

Ten Kate Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter completed his double WorldSSP Championship season with a win at Phillip Island in race two.

Althea’s Federico Caricasulo and Evan Bros. Yamaha’s Lorenzo Baldassarri completed the final podium celebrations of 2022 after a race-long battle at the head of the field.

While the Supersport grid lined up under blue skies, threatening dark clouds were hovering in the background as Jules Cluzel prepared for his final race in the World Championship after an eleven year career. Caricasulo headed the pack on pole position with Aruba Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega and Puccetti Kawasaki’s Saturday race winner Yari Montella alongside.

18 laps around the island layout ignited with Bulega in charge from Montella and Caricasulo with Baldassarri up to fourth. Aegerter rising from fifth to third on the Ten Kate R6 as Montella ran wide and Caricasulo claimed second.

The reigning champion was in the hunt as he advanced to second before the Althea rider hit back. Can Öncü crashing the second Puccetti out after contact with the first as the opening lap concluded. Aegerter heading a quintet of Italians with Baldassarri now second before the duo battled for dominance as the second lap played out.

Stefano Manzi trailed his countrymen in sixth on the Dynavolt Triumph having started eleventh. Marcel Schrotter enjoying his Supersport debut on the MV Agusta with Orelac’s Raffaele de Rosa, MTM’s Adrian Huertas and Triumph’s Hannes Soomer completing the top ten.

Just a tenth of a second separated the top four across the line as lap five began. Baldassarri winning out over Caricasulo, Aegerter and Montella with Manzi bettering Bulega as he attacked to fifth. The Puccetti rider issued a long lap penalty for his part in his