PORTUGUESE ROUND | SATURDAY
September 30, 2023
SPANISH ROUND | PREVIEW
October 26, 2023
A legendary weekend at Portimão for Aruba.it Racing and Ducati.
After Saturday’s triumph in Race-1, reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista also won the Superpole Race and Race-2, and with 56 wins in total he becomes the Ducati rider with the most wins in WorldSBK.
Bautista’s feat at the Portuguese circuit began in the morning with a heart-stopping Superpole Race in which the Spanish rider climbed from fifth on the grid to second place, before making the decisive attack on Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) at the last corner.
In Race 2 the emotions are even greater: having started from P1 on the grid, the Spanish rider of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team becomes the protagonist of one of the most beautiful duels of the 2023 season with Toprak Razgatlioglu, from which he still comes out the winner at the last corner.
Bautista’s victory number 56 aboard the Panigale V4 R also gives him a historic record. In fact, the Spaniard is now the Ducati rider with the most wins in the Superbike World Championship in a ranking that includes such true legends of Borgo Panigale history as Chaz Davies (28), three-time world champion Troy Bayliss (52) and four-time World Champion ‘King’ Carl Fogarty (55).
#THEDEFENCE
Alvaro Bautista #1
SUPERPOLE RACE P 1
RACE 2 P 1
“A really exciting weekend. I certainly didn’t expect to score a hat-trick and what makes me particularly proud is that I won fighting every corner with Toprak, who I congratulate because he was a really tough but always fair opponent. I have to admit that I enjoyed it very much: he never allowed me to match my pace, attacking me on every lap. I stayed focused, trying not to make mistakes. The championship? I’ll tell you the truth: it’s only fair that the title is awarded at Jerez and I hope many fans come for the round.”
