WorldSBK Phillip Island: Bautista takes treble as Ducati dominate

There was double delight for Ducati at Phillip Island on Sunday afternoon as Alvaro Bautista scored a treble WorldSBK victory.

Aruba.it’s Michael Rinaldi completed the celebrations with his second runner-up finish of the day, albeit six seconds back from his commanding teammate, with Pata Yamaha Prometeon’s Andrea Locatelli rounding out the podium.

The final action of the Australian weekend saw double race winner Bautista take pole position ahead of 22 laps around the 4.4km layout. Blue skies and bright conditions bringing 38℃ track temperatures as Rinaldi and Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu joined the reigning champion on the front row. Local hero Remy Gardner began his third Superbike race on home soil facing a long lap penalty after collecting his GRT Yamaha teammate Dominique Aegerter through Miller corner during the morning’s sprint race.

The Ducatis maintained their advantage as the lights went out. Pata pairing Razgatlioglu and Locatelli swapping positions as the opening lap unfolded with Motocorsa’s Axel Bassani and Honda’s Iker Lecuona getting through on Jonathan Rea for fifth and sixth before Kawasaki teammate Alex Lowes joined the fight.

Bassani was up to fourth with Rea through to fifth as the second lap played out. Lowes nipping at the wheels of the 2021 champion while Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci and Philipp Oettl completed the top ten on their respective Barni and GoEleven Panigales.

Bautista held a half second lead as lap four fired up, Locatelli and Bassani the same again with Rea beginning to reel in the front runners. The six-time champion was up to fourth next time around with an unexpected move on the Italian through turn one. Razgatlioglu disappointing the number 47 further as he was quickly dispatched