WorldSBK Portimao: Aegerter hits 13 in WorldSSP race two

Ten Kate Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter claimed his 13th victory of the 2022 WorldSSP season with a determined fight at Portimao.

A half-second lead across the line failed to represent the dramatic action as the Swiss rider celebrated securing the most Supersport wins in a single season - previously held by Andrea Locatelli. Orelac Ducati’s Raffaele de Rosa and Puccetti Kawasaki’s Can Öncü joined him on the podium after race-long-leader Federico Caricasulo missed out on the Althea in the closing stages.

With 29 points between the title rivals as the final European race prepared, current leader Aegerter lined up on pole with Caricasulo and GMT94 Yamaha’s Jules Cluzel alongside. Evan Bros. Yamaha’s Lorenzo Baldassarri down in seventh once again ahead of the 17-lap battle with Tom Booth-Amos facing a long lap penalty for irresponsible riding in Saturday’s action.

Caricasulo grabbed the initial holeshot as the race ignited, Saturday victor Stefano Manzi running fourth from EAB’s Glenn van Straalen and de Rosa with Niki Tuuli dropping Baldassarri on the MV Agusta as he claimed seventh.

Aegerter was back in charge as Caricasulo fought Cluzel for second, the Frenchman briefly getting ahead before the places shuffled with Aegerter down to fourth and Manzi in podium contention.

The battles continued down the pack as van Straalen defended from Tuuli for fifth and Öncü advancing on Baldassarri for eighth. The Italian striking back as he gained two positions at the start of lap three with countryman Manzi continuing to climb out front.

Van Straalen joined the two Italians in the final podium position next time around before Cluzel struck back. Manzi taking control overall as he looked for a triumphant double on the Dynavolt machine