SBK | GP Misano Race 1: Bautista dominates, Ducati double, Bassani is fourth

SBK GP Misano Race 1 – Alvaro Bautista won Race 1 of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, fifth stage of the 2023 World Superbike Championship, raced at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

The Ducati rider, who started from pole, dominated from the first corner to the checkered flag, leading to success the Ducati Panigale V4R with yellow livery (see photo) designed to pay homage to some historic Ducatis including the 750 Sport and the 750 SS Desmo from the 70s, before the great popularity that the yellow livery acquired in the 90s. Ducati models with the yellow livery include the 916, 996, 749, 999 and 1199.

The #1 of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer preceded his teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi, riding the second Ducati Panigale V4R of Team Aruba, second but never fighting for success. Third step of the podium for Toprak Razgatlioglu's Yamaha, riding the YZF R1 Factory.

Fourth place went to Axel Bassani, Motocorsa Racing, who initially fought with Danilo Petrucci, with the Barni Racing Team rider from Terni crashing with 6 laps to go while in fourth and chasing Razgatlioglu. Bassani preceded Jonathan Rea aboard the official Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

Dominique Aegerter finished sixth on the Yamaha YZF R1, ahead of Alex Lowes' Kawasaki ZX-10RR and Iker Lecuona's Honda CBR1000 RR-R.

Closing out the Top Ten are Remy Gardner with the Yamaha YZF R1 and Xavi Vierge with the second Honda CBR1000 RR-R. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha) finished 12th, while Lorenzo Baldassarri riding the Team GMT94 Yamaha crossed the finish line in 15th position.

WorldSBK Misano Finishing order Race 1 – Final times

01 BAUTISTA Alvaro Ducati Panigale V4R 02 RINALDI Michael Ruben Ducati Panigale V4R 5.221 03 RAZGATLIOGLU Toprak Yamaha YZF R1 8.971 04 BASSANI Axel Ducati Panigale V4R 14.285 05 REA Jonathan Kawasaki ZX-10RR 18.594 06 AEGERTER Dominique Yamaha YZF R1 19.021 07 LOWES Alex Kawasaki ZX-10RR 21.036 08 LECUONA Iker Honda CBR1000 RR-R 23.751 09 GARDNER Remy Yamaha YZF R1 24.011 10 VIERGE 1000 GERLOFF Garrett BMW M29.081 RR 11 1000 OETTL Philipp Ducati Panigale V29.430R 12 1 BALDASSARRI Lorenzo Yamaha YZF R30.139 13