Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista won FIM Superbike World Championship Race Two Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bautista won the 20-lap race by just 0.126 second.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Bautista’s teammate Michael Rinaldi was a very close third.
American Garrett Gerloff finished a close fourth, just 2.854 seconds behind Bautista, on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
Bautista pips Razgatlioglu to victory, inches closer to the title
Alvaro Baustia (1) edged out Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) to win Race Two. Photo courtesy Dorna.
In a gripping WorldSBK Race 2 at Portimao, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) etched his name in the record books once again. The reigning champion clinched his 56th victory on a Ducati, surpassing the legendary Carl Fogarty’s win tally with the Italian manufacturer.
However, this historic achievement didn’t come easy, as Bautista engaged in a breathtaking duel with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), where the first position changed hands throughout the race. Bautista briefly took the lead on several occasions, only for Razgatlioglu to respond with remarkable moves of his own. In the end, it was Bautista who managed to secure the victory in a dramatic drag race to the finish line, edging out Razgatlioglu by a mere 0.126 seconds. Bautista’s triumph marked another milestone for Ducati, but it fell just short of securing him a second riders’ title.
Meanwhile, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) mounted a spirited charge from the second row to claim the final spot on the podium. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) continued his impressive form with a solid fourth-place finish, followed closely by Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in fifth and sixth.
Alvaro Bautista. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Bautista secured his 56th Ducati win, pushing ahead of Carl Fogarty’s record.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It was amazing! It was a great battle between Toprak and me and I’m so proud to fight with him. He did his best and he had nothing to lose, so he tried every time, everywhere. It didn’t matter which corner or how he tried the pass. I’m proud to fight with him. I also tried my best. I tried to overtake him and close the corners, but he always tried. We were very close to touching many, many times! For me, it was a very enjoyable race. In the end, at the last corner because I was strong there, I tried to pass him but he learnt about the pass after the morning overtake and he closed the last part of the corner. At the moment, I thought if I couldn’t go inside, go outside because it’s the only chance you have. I opened the gas, the bike started to accelerate, and I went to the kerb. I could pass him. I think it was a great move! It was like instinct.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Razgatlioglu fought valiantly in the epic duel with Bautista, finishing a close second in the race.
P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK
“We kept fighting in the race because I’m just focused on winning because I was very angry after the Superpole Race. I saw Alvaro wasn’t very strong and I was better in the last corner than in the Superpole Race but in the race, I fought with him. I said ‘this race is mine’ because he wasn’t very strong and whilst I was on the limit, it was easier to attack. I said, ‘I need to win’ and, especially on the last lap, the feeling was good, and every corner was better than before. At the last corner, I tried something different, but it didn’t work; when I picked up the bike, there’s no acceleration and this was the biggest problem. Alvaro went outside but I don’t understand how his rear tyre grips better than me, but his bike’s acceleration is unbelievable, and it was possible to come back. I’m really angry and I did everything to win. Anyway, we finished second, but I don’t care for this; we lost, and I’m just focused on winning.”
Michael Rinaldi (21) leads Andrea Locatelli (55), Iker Lecuona (7), Remy Gardner (behind Lecuona), and Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Rinaldi delivered a strong performance, claiming the final spot on the podium in Race 2.
Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Gerloff continued his impressive form with a solid 4th place, missing the podium for 1.100s.
Andrea Locatelli (55) leads Garrett Gerloff (31), Iker Lecuona (7), and Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Locatelli finished 5th in Race 2 and currently holds 4th place in the championship.
Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race Two Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, the Italian won the 17-lap race by 0.084 second.
Newly crowned 2023 World Champion Nicolo Canepa was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2, and Yari Montella placed third on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Valentin Debise retired with a technical problem on his GMT94 Yamaha and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista won the World Superbike Superpole race Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, the Spaniard won the 10-lap race by just 0.142 second. It was Bautista’s fifth Superpole race win of the season.
Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Razgatlioglu’s teammate Andrea Locatelli placed third.
American Garrett Gerloff went from starting 12th on the grid to finishing eighth on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR, improving his grid spot for Race Two.
Jorge Martin won the rain-affected, red-flag-shortened FIM MotoGP World Championship race at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. The race was started as a “dry” race, but rain drops were beginning to fall as the start lights went out. As soon as the race was started, the rain flags began to wave, indicating riders could come into the pits to change to bikes with rain tires, if they chose to do so, and many did.
The rain intensified and the race was eventually stopped short on lap 13 due to the deteriorating track conditions. It was not restarted, the race was declared complete, and the finishing order was set from the lap 12 running order.
Prima Pramac Racing Ducati’s Jorge Martin was awarded the victory, his third race win of the season to go with his five Sprint race wins. Defending Champion Francesco Bagnaia got second, 1.413 seconds behind Martin, on his Lenovo Team Ducati. Marc Marquez was a close third on his Repsol Honda.
The results of the race left Bagnaia with just a three-point lead in the World Championship over Martin with six rounds of racing remaining.
Nerves of steel: three points in it as Martin outpaces Pecco in the rain and Marquez returns to the rostrum
Not even a flag-to-flag can dampen Martin’s charge as he navigates a bike switch and heavy rain to come home ahead of Bagnaia, with Marquez making a charge to third
Jorge Martin (89) was leading Francesco Bagnaia (1) and Marc Marquez (93) when the MotoGP race at Motegi was stopped. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 01 October 2023
It was a day for nerves of steel at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with the Championship on a knife edge before the race start and drops of drizzle becoming a flag-to-flag and then some serious rain. But on a day when faltering would likely have lived long in the memory, neither in the duel at the top of the standings did. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) overcame arguably his biggest test of late to put on a wet weather masterclass at the front, outpacing Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to cut the gap to just three points. The test was also a huge one for Bagnaia, on the back foot in terms of momentum and faced with the toughest conditions of the season so far, but the reigning World Champion dug in, held on, and took the necessary 20 points needed to keep that lead.
As the top two in the Championship held their nerve, so did the rider in the centre of his own storm as rumours about the future swirl: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) got back on the Grand Prix podium for the first time in 2023, and on home turf for Honda.
On the grid the tyres were slicks and the skies were grey, with Martin getting the dream start to take the holeshot, while Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also got off the line superbly. The same can’t be said for reigning World Champion Bagnaia, who headed into Turn 1 in fourth as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), though the factory Ducati bit back on the exit of the second corner.
There was immediate disappointment for Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) who ended up in the gravel after contact with several riders going into Turn 1, while Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) went wide with him.
As the rain started to increase, pitlane was opened almost immediately for riders to swap bikes, something which the vast majority opted to do. Martin led them into pitlane, with Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Marquez and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) following closely behind. Five opted to stay out: Fabio Quartararo (Moneter Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Cal Crutchlow (Yamalube RS4GP Racing Team), Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda Castrol) and Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team) were the quintet of riders, and all of a sudden, Pirro led the Japanese Grand Prix.
From those who chose to change bikes, Martin led a large group out onto the track, with Espargaro, Miller, Bagnaia and Marquez next. At Turn 10, Espargaro challenged Martin for the lead of the group but the Pramac rider struck back. As we went to clock off another lap, Quartararo and Crutchlow then changed machines. Pirro, Bradl and Morbidelli did not.
It was an incredibly dramatic start to the race, and it showed no signs of slowing down as Martin went wide under pressure from Espargaro, dropping to P9 before Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) picked him off. A ballsy move around Turn 6 though returned the position to the title hopeful as he went up the inside of the Gresini machine.
By the end of Lap 3, the riders on wets caught Morbidelli as Marquez tried to battle past Espargaro at Turn 11, but couldn’t keep it pinned as he slipped back behind the Aprilia. A little further back, Martin was out to make amends from his earlier error and got through on Miller at Turn 3 for sixth, lining up behind title rivals Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.
Amid all that, Pirro, incredibly, still led the Grand Prix by 10 seconds, but he soon swapped bikes too, meaning we had a new race leader in the form of Aleix Espargaro, who had time to spare over Marquez in second. There were then further shifts in the pecking order, as Bagnaia and Martin both picked off Bezzecchi, before the Ducatis then flew past Marc Marquez by the end of the lap to move for the podium places.
Just five laps in, and we had enough drama to last a season… and it was far from over!
A look at the timing screens showed Aleix Espargaro out front, but his lead was cut to half a second over Bagnaia, with Martin completing the provisional podium paces. Bezzecchi picked off Marquez as the Repsol Honda began sliding the wrong way, with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) the next to get the better of him. By this stage, the race lost Binder to a crash as he slid out at Turn 3, rider ok.
Back out front, Martin was on the march, battling past Bagnaia for second and then making light work of Espargaro for the lead, and the in form Spaniard opened up a cushion of seven tenths. 1.5 seconds behind the front two, Bezzecchi moved into third place at the expense of Aleix Espargaro, who seemed to lose all drive aboard his RS-GP with Oliveira and Marquez both coming through on him seconds later.
After nine laps, it looked like the race began to settle down after probably the most hectic start to a MotoGP™ race in recent memory. Martin’s lead was out to a second, with Bagnaia still holding his advantage over Bezzecchi. Oliveira was next in line, but the master of the wet in recent times couldn’t mount a podium challenge and then entered the pits to retire by the end of Lap 12, a lost chance.
The action was still coming thick and fast behind the leaders though, with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) and Miller staging a spectacular battle for seventh before the Aussie lost out after running it wide at Turn 11, somewhat fortunate not to crash as he rejoined the chasing pack in 10th. That suddenly put the Constructors’ crown in reach for Ducati…
Conditions were worsening, with bikes spraying up water from the asphalt as the pace slowed, but that couldn’t stop Marquez from making moves as the eight-time World Champion went by Bezzecchi and onto the podium on the drive into Turn 11. He then began taking chunks out of Bagnaia’s advantage, and it looked like just a matter of time before he reeled him in…. but then the red flag waved. Riders returned to pitlane. Including Zarco who crashed moments before the red flag and wrote off his GP23, rider ok.
With 13 of 24 laps completed, a restart would happen if conditions were to improve, but that was a big if. It seemed that conditions had cleared enough for a restart, but before they could complete the warm up lap, the red flag was waved once again, and a race result was declared. As over 50% of the race had been completed, full points were awarded.
Martin’s nerves of steel in the face of a very different challenge see him confirmed the winner, with another 25 points putting him just three off Bagnaia. But to keep that lead, if he didn’t beat him and Martin won, Pecco had to follow him home. And that he did.
Bezzecchi missed the podium but collected 13 points ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Jack Miller in P5 and P6 respectively. Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) finished ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio for seventh, while Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and Quartararo completed the top 10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) came home in 11th in his home Grand Prix, with Mir, Crutchlow, Bradl and Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) completing the point-scoring places.
Perhaps it was a muted end, but it was simply a breathtaking, spectacular challenge and race at the Japanese Grand Prix. Now, we’ve got two weeks until the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia gets underway, which might just be as well, because it’s going to take some time to unpack this one.
Somkiat Chantra won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex, the Thai racer won the 19-lap race by 1.353 seconds. It was his first win and first podium finish of the 2023 season.
Chantra’s teammate Ai Ogura was the runner-up, and World Championship point leader Pedro Acosta placed third on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine.
American Joe Roberts got 12th, and Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) finished 23rd.
Jaume Masia won the FIM Moto3 World Championship race Sunday at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda, the Spaniard won the 17-lap race by 1.546 seconds. Masia’s third win of the season and his second in a row propelled him into the World Championship point lead with six races remaining.
Ayumu Sasaki was the runner-up on his Liqui Moly Intact GP Husqvarna, and Daniel Holgado finished third on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 machine.
On the Front Cover: Can Warrior Monk Johann Zarco help save Honda’s troubled MotoGP program? Photo by Gigi Soldano/DPPI Media.
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OCTOBER 2023 ISSUE
FEATURES
Inside Info: Aprilia Twin-Cylinder RS 457, Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand
Tour, KTM 890 Adventure Rally, MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR, And
Limited Edition Suzuki Katana Coming To America, Plus Heartland Park
Closing Over Taxes, And A Lot More
Intro: 2024 Kawasaki ZX-6R Makes Cleaner Old-School Power
MotoGP Analysis: Can Warrior Monk Johann Zarco Save Honda?
Racer Profile: Torin Collins Jumps From Moto3 In Spain To MotoAmerica Supersport In Texas
Hanging With: 2022 Baggers Champion Kyle Wyman
Product Intro: Alpinestars Racing Absolute V2 Suit
RACING
MotoGP At Catalunya And Misano: Aprilia & Ducati Win
MotoAmerica Superbike In Texas: Gagne & Herrin Split Wins
World Superbike In France: Razgatlioğlu Romps, Bautista Rebounds
Attack Yamaha Fails Fuel Tests
COLUMNS
Letters To The Editor: More About A Crash At Laguna, And A Circa 2002 GSX-R Build
10 Years Ago, October 2013: MotoGP Racer Stefan Bradl Almost Drags Shoulder On
The Cover; Jeremy Toye Adds Too Much Power To A Project Kawasaki ZX-10R; Marc Marquez Wins His Fourth MotoGP In A Row; Josh Herrin and Martin Cardenas Win AMA Pro Superbike Races; And DMG Officiating Goes Wacky Again
New Products: Cardo Systems PackTalk Edgephones
The Crash Page: Chase Black Gets Collected At Brainerd
Racing, School, & Track Day Calendar: Where & When To Ride
Classified Ads/Advertiser Index
High Performance Parts & Services Directory
Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of An Ex-Racer: MotoAmerica Returns to Mid-Ohio in 2024
Bulega clinches WorldSSP title with Portimao Race 1 win
Nicolo Bulega won World Supersport Race One Saturday in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) captured the FIM Supersport World Championship in Portimao Race 1. Despite a shaky start, Bulega swiftly regained the lead, fending off relentless pressure from rival Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). Bulega’s triumph not only secured his Championship title but also marked Ducati’s first WorldSSP Manufacturers’ title, underlining their dominance in the series.
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) briefly challenged Manzi for second place but suffered a technical issue, allowing Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) to seize third. Meanwhile, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) fought tenaciously to clinch fourth place, narrowly ahead of Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha), while Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) completed the top six, despite losing ground in the closing stages.
With his commanding victory in Race 1 at Portimao, Nicolo Bulega has clinched the 2023 WorldSSP Title.
P1 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“I arrived in Portimao with an 85-point advantage, but I wasn’t thinking about the Championship until the last lap. Maybe I started to think about it with two or three laps to go. But I began this race with the desire to win the title and the race itself. Winning the title was very important, but I also wanted to win the race along with the title.
I think I will maintain the same mentality for the remaining races because I feel very good. When I see the smiles on my team’s faces, it makes me very proud, and I want to win more races.”
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Rising to glory: Nicolo Bulega is the 2023 WorldSSP Champion
Nicolo Bulega, the 2023 Supersport World Champion. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Nicolo Bulega’s (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) meteoric rise to the summit of the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is a remarkable achievement. With a total of 14 hard-fought victories and 18 podium finishes over the course of the season, Bulega’s consistent excellence set him apart as a force to be reckoned with on the track. Throughout the campaign, Bulega’s Championship points tally reached an impressive 433, solidifying his commanding position at the top of the standings.
The 2023 WorldSSP season witnessed a captivating Championship duel between Nicolo Bulega and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). It all began with Bulega taking a 5-point lead after the Australian Round’s Race 1, but he quickly extended his advantage to a commanding 20 points with a brilliant double win in Race 2. However, the Championship’s momentum shifted briefly after Bulega’s unfortunate DNF in Race 2 of the Acerbis Catalunya Round and Manzi’s impressive victory in Race 2 of the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round. The gap between them narrowed, but Bulega swiftly regrouped, pushing harder than ever and extending his Championship lead. By the time they reached the Pirelli Portuguese Round, Bulega had stretched his advantage to a formidable 85 points, solidifying his position as the dominant force in the Championship and leaving Manzi with a mountain to climb to catch up. His victory in Race 1 secured him the WorldSSP title at Portimao, with three races remaining in the 2023 season.
Bulega’s WorldSSP title marks his inaugural World Championship victory since his triumph in the 2015 CEV Moto3 Championship. He becomes the second Italian Champion in WorldSSP, following in the footsteps of Andrea Locatelli, who clinched the title in 2020.
This triumph also signifies a historic milestone for Ducati, as it is their first-ever WorldSSP Championship victory. Ducati now joins the ranks of winning manufacturers in the series, becoming the fifth manufacturer to achieve this honor, alongside Honda (9 titles), Kawasaki (4 titles), Suzuki (1 title), and Yamaha (10 titles).
As he basks in the glory of his 2023 WorldSSP Championship victory, Nicolo Bulega looks forward to the next chapter in his racing journey. In 2024, he will transition to WorldSBK with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, where he aims to continue his legacy of success on the world stage.
Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“I feel incredible. After a lot of hard work, a lot of concentration, working with my team but also alone at home, in the end, I am and we are World Champions, and this is incredible. I came here to this paddock with this team in a mentally tough situation because I didn’t enjoy riding bikes anymore, and even my training wasn’t at its best. Eventually, I tried to change everything that I thought wasn’t helping me perform at my best to try to go faster and win. In the end, all the hard work paid off. It’s incredible to have a manufacturer like Ducati supporting you, even if it means some pressure. Maybe I needed that pressure. It’s very emotional to win for Ducati, their first title in Supersport. Thanks to them!”
Nicolo Bulega biography
The journey of the 2023 WorldSSP Champion started with minimoto racing at the age of eight, and he swiftly progressed through the ranks. In 2011, he secured victories in both the Italian and European MiniGP 50 Championships, before achieving the title of Italian Champion in the PreGP 125 class in 2012. In the subsequent year, he clinched the pinnacle of the PreGP 250 Championship, showcasing a consistent trajectory of achievement.
Advancing to 2014, Bulega transitioned to the FIM CEV Moto3™ Junior World Championship. During his inaugural season, achieved a sixth-place overall finish, marked by two podium appearances. In 2015, he won the FIM CEV Moto3™ Junior World Championship, signifying a significant milestone on the international stage.
In parallel, Bulega made his entry into the Grand Prix sphere, debuting during the Valencia GP of the same year, where he secured a twelfth-place finish. The subsequent year of 2016 witnessed his first full season in the FIM Moto3™ World Championship, culminating in a seventh-place finish in the standings. This marked a promising commencement to his global career and laid the groundwork for future achievements.
During the ensuing years of 2017 and 2018, Bulega grappled with challenges in maintaining consistent results within the Moto3™ class. Despite these difficulties, his efforts translated into two podium finishes, with a notable second place as his best result. Between 2019 and 2021, he faced a challenging stint in the FIM Moto2™ World Championship.
In 2022, a significant turning point arrived as Bulega joined the Ducati project within the FIM Supersport World Championship. Under the banner of the Aruba.It Racing WorldSSP Team, his mastery of Ducati machinery was evident as he clinched a commendable fourth place finish in the Championship, establishing his stature as a frontrunner within the WorldSSP grid. The crowning achievement came in the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship season. His impressive tally of 14 victories culminated in the prestigious title of the 2023 WorldSSP Champion. This remarkable feat solidified his reputation as a dominant force, setting the stage for his forthcoming WorldSBK journey in 2024.
World Championship Career:
2014-2015: FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship
Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish finished second and 10th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Race One Saturday at Donington Park, in England.
American Julian Correa in parc ferme at Donington Park. Photo by Cami Photography, courtesy Julian Correa.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
V for Vickers victory as title chase takes a dramatic turn at Donington Park
Race One winner Ryan Vickers (center), runner-up Leon Haslam (left), and third-place finisher Luke Mossey (right) on the podium at Donington Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Ryan Vickers claimed a dominant Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory in the BikeSocial Sprint Race at Donington Park as the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha team’s tyre choice paid off in the wet conditions whilst the leading title rivals had a disastrous opening race.
Rain before the start of the race meant that it would be a crucial call on tyre choice on the grid and a last minute switch to wet tyres on both the front and rear gave Vickers the confidence to push to a lights-to-flag victory.
Vickers launched from the start into the front with the chasing pack led by Peter Hickman, Lee Jackson and Jack Kennedy, and the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider was then controlling the race from the front.
The race proved to be one to forget for standings leaders BeerMonster Ducati as their choice of intermediates on both the front and rear for Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell meant they would both fail to score a point, meaning they remain separated by just half a point at the top of the standings. Irwin ended the race in 23rd position with Bridewell in 24th.
Kyle Ryde was unable to capitalise on the BeerMonster Ducati Team’s misfortune though, with the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha also making the same choice as his title rivals, he was able to salvage four points in 12th place but he has dropped to fourth in the overall standings by a single point.
As Vickers delivered a perfect performance for the win, Leon Haslam was determined to close the advantage despite the conditions. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider fought throughout to take an impressive second place finish despite the combination of a wet tyre in the front and an intermediate in the rear. The result means he has edged ahead of Ryde in the title chase, with 55.5 points the deficit to Irwin at the top of the standings.
The fight for the final podium position went down to the finish, with Luke Mossey taking his first podium finish in six years for the Tactix by Lloyd & Jones BMW team after making a move on Jack Kennedy on the final run to the chequered flag.
Lee Jackson claimed a top five finish for the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team with Franco Bourne debuting the BSB Pathway specification Marvel HCL Motorsport Honda taking his best finish in the Championship in sixth place.
Josh Brookes ended seventh for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team with Storm Stacey splitting him from teammate Peter Hickman. Rookie Louis Valleley claimed an impressive top ten finish for the Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki team.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, BikeSocial Sprint Race:
Louis Valleley (Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki) +39.895s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 360.5
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 360
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 305
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 304
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 296.5
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 276.5
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 262
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 232
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 222
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 134
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Ryan Vickers
LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha
“It was really difficult to make the choice on tyre – I couldn’t make my decision, it wasn’t raining at the time but also the track was drying in front of us. I said to the team to put wets in and luckily it was the right decision.
“I got into the front and knew I had a bit of an advantage and I was just monitoring the pit board really. I was riding it as safe as I could to keep the advantage to bring home the win.
“I’m so, so happy, the team did an amazing job and made no mistakes and that’s the hard thing so I’m pleased to give them the win.”
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista took one more step closer to capturing the 2023 Superbike World Championship with a victory in Race One Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bautista won the 20-lap race by 2.098 seconds.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Jonathan Rea placed third on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR.
American Garrett Gerloff started the race 12th on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR and pushed forward to finish fourth overall, top BMW rider, and Top Independent rider.
Ducati seals Manufacturers’ Title with Bautista’s Race 1 win in Portimao
Alvaro Bautista (1) leads Toprak Razgatlioglu (54), Jonathan Rea (65), and Alex Lowes (22) in Race One in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his Championship mettle in an electrifying Race 1 at Portimao, sealing a hard-fought victory to extend his lead in the standings by five points. It was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) who initially grabbed the lead, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) making a jaw-dropping recovery after a Turn 3 incident. However, Bautista’s unwavering determination led him to overtake and secure his 22nd win of the season, closing in on the all-time Ducati record held by Carl Fogarty. Ducati also celebrated as Bautista’s win guaranteed them the 2023 Manufacturers’ Title.
In the fierce battle for fourth place, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) emerged victorious ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took the flag in seventh. The race also witnessed Andrea Locatelli’s (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) strong charge from the back of the grid to ninth place, setting the stage for an intriguing Tissot Superpole Race.
With his Race 1 win, Bautista further solidified his standing atop the Championship, now leading by 52 points.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“For sure, today has been a really good day for Ducati because they won the Manufacturers’ Title. I’m so happy to be part of this success. Congratulations to all the Ducati family! I’m also happy from my side because today was a very difficult day for me. In the Superpole, we made a small change to the bike that didn’t work, and I couldn’t set a good lap time. But, in any case, I was confident for the race. Certainly, track conditions were tricky with the strong wind. The wind was different on every lap, and for me, it was difficult to understand and find reference points. At the beginning, I enjoyed the battle with Jonathan and Toprak. I took the lead. It was challenging for me to maintain the same pace as yesterday afternoon or this morning because the wind was too strong. Maybe it’s because I’m light, and I feel it more, but I tried to understand it and not make any mistakes. Toprak was pushing hard, I was keeping an eye on the gap, and it remained constant. Congratulations to him because he made a big improvement between yesterday and today, and he was able to match my race pace. As for me, I tried not to make any mistakes, and today I could win again, so I’m very happy.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54), Alvaro Bautista (1), and Jonathan Rea (65) battling during Race One. Photo courtesy Dorna.
If Bautista wins both races on Sunday, Razgatlioglu must finish second to take the title fight to Jerez.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Currently third in the Championship, Rea added to his podium tally with a hard-fought third-place finish in Race 1.
Alex Lowes (22) held off Garrett Gerloff (31) during Race One. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Gerloff had an outstanding performance in Race 1 at Portimao, battling through the field to secure a fourth-place finish.
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (a.k.a. Algarve International Circuit) in Portimão, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista won FIM Superbike World Championship Race Two Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bautista won the 20-lap race by just 0.126 second.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Bautista’s teammate Michael Rinaldi was a very close third.
American Garrett Gerloff finished a close fourth, just 2.854 seconds behind Bautista, on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
Bautista pips Razgatlioglu to victory, inches closer to the title
Alvaro Baustia (1) edged out Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) to win Race Two. Photo courtesy Dorna.
In a gripping WorldSBK Race 2 at Portimao, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) etched his name in the record books once again. The reigning champion clinched his 56th victory on a Ducati, surpassing the legendary Carl Fogarty’s win tally with the Italian manufacturer.
However, this historic achievement didn’t come easy, as Bautista engaged in a breathtaking duel with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), where the first position changed hands throughout the race. Bautista briefly took the lead on several occasions, only for Razgatlioglu to respond with remarkable moves of his own. In the end, it was Bautista who managed to secure the victory in a dramatic drag race to the finish line, edging out Razgatlioglu by a mere 0.126 seconds. Bautista’s triumph marked another milestone for Ducati, but it fell just short of securing him a second riders’ title.
Meanwhile, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) mounted a spirited charge from the second row to claim the final spot on the podium. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) continued his impressive form with a solid fourth-place finish, followed closely by Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in fifth and sixth.
Alvaro Bautista. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Bautista secured his 56th Ducati win, pushing ahead of Carl Fogarty’s record.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It was amazing! It was a great battle between Toprak and me and I’m so proud to fight with him. He did his best and he had nothing to lose, so he tried every time, everywhere. It didn’t matter which corner or how he tried the pass. I’m proud to fight with him. I also tried my best. I tried to overtake him and close the corners, but he always tried. We were very close to touching many, many times! For me, it was a very enjoyable race. In the end, at the last corner because I was strong there, I tried to pass him but he learnt about the pass after the morning overtake and he closed the last part of the corner. At the moment, I thought if I couldn’t go inside, go outside because it’s the only chance you have. I opened the gas, the bike started to accelerate, and I went to the kerb. I could pass him. I think it was a great move! It was like instinct.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Razgatlioglu fought valiantly in the epic duel with Bautista, finishing a close second in the race.
P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK
“We kept fighting in the race because I’m just focused on winning because I was very angry after the Superpole Race. I saw Alvaro wasn’t very strong and I was better in the last corner than in the Superpole Race but in the race, I fought with him. I said ‘this race is mine’ because he wasn’t very strong and whilst I was on the limit, it was easier to attack. I said, ‘I need to win’ and, especially on the last lap, the feeling was good, and every corner was better than before. At the last corner, I tried something different, but it didn’t work; when I picked up the bike, there’s no acceleration and this was the biggest problem. Alvaro went outside but I don’t understand how his rear tyre grips better than me, but his bike’s acceleration is unbelievable, and it was possible to come back. I’m really angry and I did everything to win. Anyway, we finished second, but I don’t care for this; we lost, and I’m just focused on winning.”
Michael Rinaldi (21) leads Andrea Locatelli (55), Iker Lecuona (7), Remy Gardner (behind Lecuona), and Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Rinaldi delivered a strong performance, claiming the final spot on the podium in Race 2.
Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Gerloff continued his impressive form with a solid 4th place, missing the podium for 1.100s.
Andrea Locatelli (55) leads Garrett Gerloff (31), Iker Lecuona (7), and Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Locatelli finished 5th in Race 2 and currently holds 4th place in the championship.
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (a.k.a. Algarve International Circuit) in Portimão, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race Two Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, the Italian won the 17-lap race by 0.084 second.
Newly crowned 2023 World Champion Nicolo Canepa was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2, and Yari Montella placed third on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Valentin Debise retired with a technical problem on his GMT94 Yamaha and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (a.k.a. Algarve International Circuit) in Portimão, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista won the World Superbike Superpole race Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, the Spaniard won the 10-lap race by just 0.142 second. It was Bautista’s fifth Superpole race win of the season.
Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Razgatlioglu’s teammate Andrea Locatelli placed third.
American Garrett Gerloff went from starting 12th on the grid to finishing eighth on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR, improving his grid spot for Race Two.
Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Photo courtesy Michelin.
Jorge Martin won the rain-affected, red-flag-shortened FIM MotoGP World Championship race at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. The race was started as a “dry” race, but rain drops were beginning to fall as the start lights went out. As soon as the race was started, the rain flags began to wave, indicating riders could come into the pits to change to bikes with rain tires, if they chose to do so, and many did.
The rain intensified and the race was eventually stopped short on lap 13 due to the deteriorating track conditions. It was not restarted, the race was declared complete, and the finishing order was set from the lap 12 running order.
Prima Pramac Racing Ducati’s Jorge Martin was awarded the victory, his third race win of the season to go with his five Sprint race wins. Defending Champion Francesco Bagnaia got second, 1.413 seconds behind Martin, on his Lenovo Team Ducati. Marc Marquez was a close third on his Repsol Honda.
The results of the race left Bagnaia with just a three-point lead in the World Championship over Martin with six rounds of racing remaining.
Nerves of steel: three points in it as Martin outpaces Pecco in the rain and Marquez returns to the rostrum
Not even a flag-to-flag can dampen Martin’s charge as he navigates a bike switch and heavy rain to come home ahead of Bagnaia, with Marquez making a charge to third
Jorge Martin (89) was leading Francesco Bagnaia (1) and Marc Marquez (93) when the MotoGP race at Motegi was stopped. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 01 October 2023
It was a day for nerves of steel at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, with the Championship on a knife edge before the race start and drops of drizzle becoming a flag-to-flag and then some serious rain. But on a day when faltering would likely have lived long in the memory, neither in the duel at the top of the standings did. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) overcame arguably his biggest test of late to put on a wet weather masterclass at the front, outpacing Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to cut the gap to just three points. The test was also a huge one for Bagnaia, on the back foot in terms of momentum and faced with the toughest conditions of the season so far, but the reigning World Champion dug in, held on, and took the necessary 20 points needed to keep that lead.
As the top two in the Championship held their nerve, so did the rider in the centre of his own storm as rumours about the future swirl: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) got back on the Grand Prix podium for the first time in 2023, and on home turf for Honda.
On the grid the tyres were slicks and the skies were grey, with Martin getting the dream start to take the holeshot, while Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also got off the line superbly. The same can’t be said for reigning World Champion Bagnaia, who headed into Turn 1 in fourth as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), though the factory Ducati bit back on the exit of the second corner.
There was immediate disappointment for Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) who ended up in the gravel after contact with several riders going into Turn 1, while Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) went wide with him.
As the rain started to increase, pitlane was opened almost immediately for riders to swap bikes, something which the vast majority opted to do. Martin led them into pitlane, with Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Marquez and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) following closely behind. Five opted to stay out: Fabio Quartararo (Moneter Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Cal Crutchlow (Yamalube RS4GP Racing Team), Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda Castrol) and Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team) were the quintet of riders, and all of a sudden, Pirro led the Japanese Grand Prix.
From those who chose to change bikes, Martin led a large group out onto the track, with Espargaro, Miller, Bagnaia and Marquez next. At Turn 10, Espargaro challenged Martin for the lead of the group but the Pramac rider struck back. As we went to clock off another lap, Quartararo and Crutchlow then changed machines. Pirro, Bradl and Morbidelli did not.
It was an incredibly dramatic start to the race, and it showed no signs of slowing down as Martin went wide under pressure from Espargaro, dropping to P9 before Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) picked him off. A ballsy move around Turn 6 though returned the position to the title hopeful as he went up the inside of the Gresini machine.
By the end of Lap 3, the riders on wets caught Morbidelli as Marquez tried to battle past Espargaro at Turn 11, but couldn’t keep it pinned as he slipped back behind the Aprilia. A little further back, Martin was out to make amends from his earlier error and got through on Miller at Turn 3 for sixth, lining up behind title rivals Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.
Amid all that, Pirro, incredibly, still led the Grand Prix by 10 seconds, but he soon swapped bikes too, meaning we had a new race leader in the form of Aleix Espargaro, who had time to spare over Marquez in second. There were then further shifts in the pecking order, as Bagnaia and Martin both picked off Bezzecchi, before the Ducatis then flew past Marc Marquez by the end of the lap to move for the podium places.
Just five laps in, and we had enough drama to last a season… and it was far from over!
A look at the timing screens showed Aleix Espargaro out front, but his lead was cut to half a second over Bagnaia, with Martin completing the provisional podium paces. Bezzecchi picked off Marquez as the Repsol Honda began sliding the wrong way, with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) the next to get the better of him. By this stage, the race lost Binder to a crash as he slid out at Turn 3, rider ok.
Back out front, Martin was on the march, battling past Bagnaia for second and then making light work of Espargaro for the lead, and the in form Spaniard opened up a cushion of seven tenths. 1.5 seconds behind the front two, Bezzecchi moved into third place at the expense of Aleix Espargaro, who seemed to lose all drive aboard his RS-GP with Oliveira and Marquez both coming through on him seconds later.
After nine laps, it looked like the race began to settle down after probably the most hectic start to a MotoGP™ race in recent memory. Martin’s lead was out to a second, with Bagnaia still holding his advantage over Bezzecchi. Oliveira was next in line, but the master of the wet in recent times couldn’t mount a podium challenge and then entered the pits to retire by the end of Lap 12, a lost chance.
The action was still coming thick and fast behind the leaders though, with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) and Miller staging a spectacular battle for seventh before the Aussie lost out after running it wide at Turn 11, somewhat fortunate not to crash as he rejoined the chasing pack in 10th. That suddenly put the Constructors’ crown in reach for Ducati…
Conditions were worsening, with bikes spraying up water from the asphalt as the pace slowed, but that couldn’t stop Marquez from making moves as the eight-time World Champion went by Bezzecchi and onto the podium on the drive into Turn 11. He then began taking chunks out of Bagnaia’s advantage, and it looked like just a matter of time before he reeled him in…. but then the red flag waved. Riders returned to pitlane. Including Zarco who crashed moments before the red flag and wrote off his GP23, rider ok.
With 13 of 24 laps completed, a restart would happen if conditions were to improve, but that was a big if. It seemed that conditions had cleared enough for a restart, but before they could complete the warm up lap, the red flag was waved once again, and a race result was declared. As over 50% of the race had been completed, full points were awarded.
Martin’s nerves of steel in the face of a very different challenge see him confirmed the winner, with another 25 points putting him just three off Bagnaia. But to keep that lead, if he didn’t beat him and Martin won, Pecco had to follow him home. And that he did.
Bezzecchi missed the podium but collected 13 points ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Jack Miller in P5 and P6 respectively. Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) finished ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio for seventh, while Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and Quartararo completed the top 10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) came home in 11th in his home Grand Prix, with Mir, Crutchlow, Bradl and Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) completing the point-scoring places.
Perhaps it was a muted end, but it was simply a breathtaking, spectacular challenge and race at the Japanese Grand Prix. Now, we’ve got two weeks until the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia gets underway, which might just be as well, because it’s going to take some time to unpack this one.
Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Photo courtesy Michelin.
Somkiat Chantra won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex, the Thai racer won the 19-lap race by 1.353 seconds. It was his first win and first podium finish of the 2023 season.
Chantra’s teammate Ai Ogura was the runner-up, and World Championship point leader Pedro Acosta placed third on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine.
American Joe Roberts got 12th, and Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) finished 23rd.
Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Photo courtesy Michelin.
Jaume Masia won the FIM Moto3 World Championship race Sunday at Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda, the Spaniard won the 17-lap race by 1.546 seconds. Masia’s third win of the season and his second in a row propelled him into the World Championship point lead with six races remaining.
Ayumu Sasaki was the runner-up on his Liqui Moly Intact GP Husqvarna, and Daniel Holgado finished third on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 machine.
On the Front Cover: Can Warrior Monk Johann Zarco help save Honda’s troubled MotoGP program? Photo by Gigi Soldano/DPPI Media.
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OCTOBER 2023 ISSUE
FEATURES
Inside Info: Aprilia Twin-Cylinder RS 457, Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand
Tour, KTM 890 Adventure Rally, MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR, And
Limited Edition Suzuki Katana Coming To America, Plus Heartland Park
Closing Over Taxes, And A Lot More
Intro: 2024 Kawasaki ZX-6R Makes Cleaner Old-School Power
MotoGP Analysis: Can Warrior Monk Johann Zarco Save Honda?
Racer Profile: Torin Collins Jumps From Moto3 In Spain To MotoAmerica Supersport In Texas
Hanging With: 2022 Baggers Champion Kyle Wyman
Product Intro: Alpinestars Racing Absolute V2 Suit
RACING
MotoGP At Catalunya And Misano: Aprilia & Ducati Win
MotoAmerica Superbike In Texas: Gagne & Herrin Split Wins
World Superbike In France: Razgatlioğlu Romps, Bautista Rebounds
Attack Yamaha Fails Fuel Tests
COLUMNS
Letters To The Editor: More About A Crash At Laguna, And A Circa 2002 GSX-R Build
10 Years Ago, October 2013: MotoGP Racer Stefan Bradl Almost Drags Shoulder On
The Cover; Jeremy Toye Adds Too Much Power To A Project Kawasaki ZX-10R; Marc Marquez Wins His Fourth MotoGP In A Row; Josh Herrin and Martin Cardenas Win AMA Pro Superbike Races; And DMG Officiating Goes Wacky Again
New Products: Cardo Systems PackTalk Edgephones
The Crash Page: Chase Black Gets Collected At Brainerd
Racing, School, & Track Day Calendar: Where & When To Ride
Classified Ads/Advertiser Index
High Performance Parts & Services Directory
Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of An Ex-Racer: MotoAmerica Returns to Mid-Ohio in 2024
Bulega clinches WorldSSP title with Portimao Race 1 win
Nicolo Bulega won World Supersport Race One Saturday in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) captured the FIM Supersport World Championship in Portimao Race 1. Despite a shaky start, Bulega swiftly regained the lead, fending off relentless pressure from rival Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). Bulega’s triumph not only secured his Championship title but also marked Ducati’s first WorldSSP Manufacturers’ title, underlining their dominance in the series.
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) briefly challenged Manzi for second place but suffered a technical issue, allowing Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) to seize third. Meanwhile, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) fought tenaciously to clinch fourth place, narrowly ahead of Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha), while Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) completed the top six, despite losing ground in the closing stages.
With his commanding victory in Race 1 at Portimao, Nicolo Bulega has clinched the 2023 WorldSSP Title.
P1 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“I arrived in Portimao with an 85-point advantage, but I wasn’t thinking about the Championship until the last lap. Maybe I started to think about it with two or three laps to go. But I began this race with the desire to win the title and the race itself. Winning the title was very important, but I also wanted to win the race along with the title.
I think I will maintain the same mentality for the remaining races because I feel very good. When I see the smiles on my team’s faces, it makes me very proud, and I want to win more races.”
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Rising to glory: Nicolo Bulega is the 2023 WorldSSP Champion
Nicolo Bulega, the 2023 Supersport World Champion. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Nicolo Bulega’s (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) meteoric rise to the summit of the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is a remarkable achievement. With a total of 14 hard-fought victories and 18 podium finishes over the course of the season, Bulega’s consistent excellence set him apart as a force to be reckoned with on the track. Throughout the campaign, Bulega’s Championship points tally reached an impressive 433, solidifying his commanding position at the top of the standings.
The 2023 WorldSSP season witnessed a captivating Championship duel between Nicolo Bulega and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). It all began with Bulega taking a 5-point lead after the Australian Round’s Race 1, but he quickly extended his advantage to a commanding 20 points with a brilliant double win in Race 2. However, the Championship’s momentum shifted briefly after Bulega’s unfortunate DNF in Race 2 of the Acerbis Catalunya Round and Manzi’s impressive victory in Race 2 of the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round. The gap between them narrowed, but Bulega swiftly regrouped, pushing harder than ever and extending his Championship lead. By the time they reached the Pirelli Portuguese Round, Bulega had stretched his advantage to a formidable 85 points, solidifying his position as the dominant force in the Championship and leaving Manzi with a mountain to climb to catch up. His victory in Race 1 secured him the WorldSSP title at Portimao, with three races remaining in the 2023 season.
Bulega’s WorldSSP title marks his inaugural World Championship victory since his triumph in the 2015 CEV Moto3 Championship. He becomes the second Italian Champion in WorldSSP, following in the footsteps of Andrea Locatelli, who clinched the title in 2020.
This triumph also signifies a historic milestone for Ducati, as it is their first-ever WorldSSP Championship victory. Ducati now joins the ranks of winning manufacturers in the series, becoming the fifth manufacturer to achieve this honor, alongside Honda (9 titles), Kawasaki (4 titles), Suzuki (1 title), and Yamaha (10 titles).
As he basks in the glory of his 2023 WorldSSP Championship victory, Nicolo Bulega looks forward to the next chapter in his racing journey. In 2024, he will transition to WorldSBK with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, where he aims to continue his legacy of success on the world stage.
Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“I feel incredible. After a lot of hard work, a lot of concentration, working with my team but also alone at home, in the end, I am and we are World Champions, and this is incredible. I came here to this paddock with this team in a mentally tough situation because I didn’t enjoy riding bikes anymore, and even my training wasn’t at its best. Eventually, I tried to change everything that I thought wasn’t helping me perform at my best to try to go faster and win. In the end, all the hard work paid off. It’s incredible to have a manufacturer like Ducati supporting you, even if it means some pressure. Maybe I needed that pressure. It’s very emotional to win for Ducati, their first title in Supersport. Thanks to them!”
Nicolo Bulega biography
The journey of the 2023 WorldSSP Champion started with minimoto racing at the age of eight, and he swiftly progressed through the ranks. In 2011, he secured victories in both the Italian and European MiniGP 50 Championships, before achieving the title of Italian Champion in the PreGP 125 class in 2012. In the subsequent year, he clinched the pinnacle of the PreGP 250 Championship, showcasing a consistent trajectory of achievement.
Advancing to 2014, Bulega transitioned to the FIM CEV Moto3™ Junior World Championship. During his inaugural season, achieved a sixth-place overall finish, marked by two podium appearances. In 2015, he won the FIM CEV Moto3™ Junior World Championship, signifying a significant milestone on the international stage.
In parallel, Bulega made his entry into the Grand Prix sphere, debuting during the Valencia GP of the same year, where he secured a twelfth-place finish. The subsequent year of 2016 witnessed his first full season in the FIM Moto3™ World Championship, culminating in a seventh-place finish in the standings. This marked a promising commencement to his global career and laid the groundwork for future achievements.
During the ensuing years of 2017 and 2018, Bulega grappled with challenges in maintaining consistent results within the Moto3™ class. Despite these difficulties, his efforts translated into two podium finishes, with a notable second place as his best result. Between 2019 and 2021, he faced a challenging stint in the FIM Moto2™ World Championship.
In 2022, a significant turning point arrived as Bulega joined the Ducati project within the FIM Supersport World Championship. Under the banner of the Aruba.It Racing WorldSSP Team, his mastery of Ducati machinery was evident as he clinched a commendable fourth place finish in the Championship, establishing his stature as a frontrunner within the WorldSSP grid. The crowning achievement came in the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship season. His impressive tally of 14 victories culminated in the prestigious title of the 2023 WorldSSP Champion. This remarkable feat solidified his reputation as a dominant force, setting the stage for his forthcoming WorldSBK journey in 2024.
World Championship Career:
2014-2015: FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship
Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish finished second and 10th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Race One Saturday at Donington Park, in England.
American Julian Correa in parc ferme at Donington Park. Photo by Cami Photography, courtesy Julian Correa.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
V for Vickers victory as title chase takes a dramatic turn at Donington Park
Race One winner Ryan Vickers (center), runner-up Leon Haslam (left), and third-place finisher Luke Mossey (right) on the podium at Donington Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Ryan Vickers claimed a dominant Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory in the BikeSocial Sprint Race at Donington Park as the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha team’s tyre choice paid off in the wet conditions whilst the leading title rivals had a disastrous opening race.
Rain before the start of the race meant that it would be a crucial call on tyre choice on the grid and a last minute switch to wet tyres on both the front and rear gave Vickers the confidence to push to a lights-to-flag victory.
Vickers launched from the start into the front with the chasing pack led by Peter Hickman, Lee Jackson and Jack Kennedy, and the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider was then controlling the race from the front.
The race proved to be one to forget for standings leaders BeerMonster Ducati as their choice of intermediates on both the front and rear for Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell meant they would both fail to score a point, meaning they remain separated by just half a point at the top of the standings. Irwin ended the race in 23rd position with Bridewell in 24th.
Kyle Ryde was unable to capitalise on the BeerMonster Ducati Team’s misfortune though, with the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha also making the same choice as his title rivals, he was able to salvage four points in 12th place but he has dropped to fourth in the overall standings by a single point.
As Vickers delivered a perfect performance for the win, Leon Haslam was determined to close the advantage despite the conditions. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider fought throughout to take an impressive second place finish despite the combination of a wet tyre in the front and an intermediate in the rear. The result means he has edged ahead of Ryde in the title chase, with 55.5 points the deficit to Irwin at the top of the standings.
The fight for the final podium position went down to the finish, with Luke Mossey taking his first podium finish in six years for the Tactix by Lloyd & Jones BMW team after making a move on Jack Kennedy on the final run to the chequered flag.
Lee Jackson claimed a top five finish for the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team with Franco Bourne debuting the BSB Pathway specification Marvel HCL Motorsport Honda taking his best finish in the Championship in sixth place.
Josh Brookes ended seventh for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team with Storm Stacey splitting him from teammate Peter Hickman. Rookie Louis Valleley claimed an impressive top ten finish for the Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki team.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, BikeSocial Sprint Race:
Louis Valleley (Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki) +39.895s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 360.5
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 360
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 305
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 304
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 296.5
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 276.5
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 262
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 232
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 222
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 134
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Ryan Vickers
LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha
“It was really difficult to make the choice on tyre – I couldn’t make my decision, it wasn’t raining at the time but also the track was drying in front of us. I said to the team to put wets in and luckily it was the right decision.
“I got into the front and knew I had a bit of an advantage and I was just monitoring the pit board really. I was riding it as safe as I could to keep the advantage to bring home the win.
“I’m so, so happy, the team did an amazing job and made no mistakes and that’s the hard thing so I’m pleased to give them the win.”
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (a.k.a. Algarve International Circuit) in Portimão, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista took one more step closer to capturing the 2023 Superbike World Championship with a victory in Race One Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bautista won the 20-lap race by 2.098 seconds.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Jonathan Rea placed third on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR.
American Garrett Gerloff started the race 12th on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR and pushed forward to finish fourth overall, top BMW rider, and Top Independent rider.
Ducati seals Manufacturers’ Title with Bautista’s Race 1 win in Portimao
Alvaro Bautista (1) leads Toprak Razgatlioglu (54), Jonathan Rea (65), and Alex Lowes (22) in Race One in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his Championship mettle in an electrifying Race 1 at Portimao, sealing a hard-fought victory to extend his lead in the standings by five points. It was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) who initially grabbed the lead, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) making a jaw-dropping recovery after a Turn 3 incident. However, Bautista’s unwavering determination led him to overtake and secure his 22nd win of the season, closing in on the all-time Ducati record held by Carl Fogarty. Ducati also celebrated as Bautista’s win guaranteed them the 2023 Manufacturers’ Title.
In the fierce battle for fourth place, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) emerged victorious ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took the flag in seventh. The race also witnessed Andrea Locatelli’s (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) strong charge from the back of the grid to ninth place, setting the stage for an intriguing Tissot Superpole Race.
With his Race 1 win, Bautista further solidified his standing atop the Championship, now leading by 52 points.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“For sure, today has been a really good day for Ducati because they won the Manufacturers’ Title. I’m so happy to be part of this success. Congratulations to all the Ducati family! I’m also happy from my side because today was a very difficult day for me. In the Superpole, we made a small change to the bike that didn’t work, and I couldn’t set a good lap time. But, in any case, I was confident for the race. Certainly, track conditions were tricky with the strong wind. The wind was different on every lap, and for me, it was difficult to understand and find reference points. At the beginning, I enjoyed the battle with Jonathan and Toprak. I took the lead. It was challenging for me to maintain the same pace as yesterday afternoon or this morning because the wind was too strong. Maybe it’s because I’m light, and I feel it more, but I tried to understand it and not make any mistakes. Toprak was pushing hard, I was keeping an eye on the gap, and it remained constant. Congratulations to him because he made a big improvement between yesterday and today, and he was able to match my race pace. As for me, I tried not to make any mistakes, and today I could win again, so I’m very happy.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54), Alvaro Bautista (1), and Jonathan Rea (65) battling during Race One. Photo courtesy Dorna.
If Bautista wins both races on Sunday, Razgatlioglu must finish second to take the title fight to Jerez.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Currently third in the Championship, Rea added to his podium tally with a hard-fought third-place finish in Race 1.
Alex Lowes (22) held off Garrett Gerloff (31) during Race One. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Gerloff had an outstanding performance in Race 1 at Portimao, battling through the field to secure a fourth-place finish.
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