WorldSBK Portimao: Bautista back on top for European conclusion

Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista secured the final celebrations at Portimao with victory in WorldSBK race two on Sunday afternoon.

The usual ‘big three’ completed the podium once again as Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu settled for second from KRT’s Jonathan Rea, the leading teams’ second riders rounding out the top six as the feature race, and European season, came to a calm and dispersed conclusion.

Razgatlioglu headed the grid after his morning success with Bautista and Rea alongside. The first 20-lap race of the weekend awaiting the pack after Saturday’s reduced action with tyre life somewhat unknown in the high October temperatures.

Rea bettered Bautista off the lights as Razgatlioglu maintained his advantage through the opening corner. The Northern Irishman taking charge at turn four with Aruba’s Michael Rinaldi heading Alex Lowes on the KRT in the battle for fourth.

Bonovo BMW’s Eugene Laverty was up six positions and into the points on the opening lap as his final Superbike race on home soil fired up. Teammate Loris Baz battling the factory BMW of Scott Redding for eighth as Lucas Mahias crashed out on the Puccetti Kawasaki.

The BMW battles continued as Michael van der Mark demoted Laverty for 12th. Honda’s Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge already over a second clear on the fringes of the top ten as the mid-pack began to spread out.

A dejected Axel Bassani left the race early after a lap four crash on the Motocorsa Ducati. Rea remaining in charge out front as Razgatlioglu struggled to find a way through.

The move was successfully dispatched at turn one as lap seven unfolded, the R1 attempting to break free on the Kawasaki before the home straight attempted to shuffle the pack once again next time around.

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