Superbikes | Misano Round, Race2: Bautista dominates

At the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) concludes the Pirelli Round of the Emilia-Romagna Round by signing the second victory of the weekend, which gives Ducati a double on its home track.

Bautista sprints behind Razgatlioglu and manages to pass him on the seventh lap, at the Curvone, and then pulls ahead to win his 22nd career race.
This is Razgatlioglu's 63rd podium in WorldSBK: thanks to these results the Spaniard now has a 36-point lead in the standings.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started from tenth place and ultimately achieved his second podium of this weekend and of the season, putting Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) behind him. The Rimini native has achieved 12 podiums so far, including five in Misano. Rea finishes fourth: this is the first race of 2022 for him in which he doesn't get on the podium.

Fifth place for Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), his sixth top five in the first 12 races of this rookie season. The Spaniard leaves behind Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who made a good start.

Bassani takes advantage of the Long Lap Penalty with which Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is sanctioned for repeatedly exceeding track limits during the final stages of the race.

Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finishes ninth and precedes Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) who completes the top ten.
Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) and Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) are 11th and 12th respectively, placing themselves behind Luca Bernardi (BARNI Spark Racing Team) – who started 13th – and the BMW pair formed by Eugene Laverty (Bonovo Action BMW) and Illia Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who close the points.

Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) crashed on the third lap at turn 16 while wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing) stopped on the fourth lap due to a technical problem. Return to the pits for Alessandro Delbianco (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) for the same reason, as well as for Hafizh Syahrin (MIE Racing Honda Team) during the eighth lap. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) – started very well – fell on lap 12 at turn 11 and was taken to the medical center for checks. The contact between Vierge and Bassani will be investigated post-race by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards.

Below are the top ten at the end of WorldSBK Race 2:

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +7.194
3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +11.119
4. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +14.901
5. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +18.774
6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +20.217
7. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing)
8. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WSBK)
9. Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 10. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW)

Fast lap: Alvaro Bautista, Ducati – 1'34.255 – 8th lap

Championship standings:
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 220 points
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 184
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 141
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 108
5. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) 99
6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 92