The manufacturers’ title in the FIM Supersport World Championship was secured on Saturday at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve as Ducati secured their first crown since returning to WorldSSP, and their first ever. The Italian brand ended Yamaha’s winning streak in style this year as the Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Racing outfit also won the Riders’ Championship with Nicolo Bulega taking the crown in his second season since his switch from the MotoGP™ paddock.
A NEW MANUFACTURER TASTES GLORY: Ducati become the fifth brand to win the manufacturers’ title
Ducati became the fifth manufacturer to have a team win the riders’ title as Bulega took the crown with the Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team this year. The #11 has won 14 races to date this year and has 19 podiums as he secured the title. They joined the likes of Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda to have a rider win the title, becoming the first European brand to win the WorldSSP title in the process. It was a historic day for Ducati as they celebrated multiple titles, including two Manufacturers’ Championships on the same day.
Not only did a Ducati rider secure the Riders’ Championship, but the Italian brand also joined an exclusive club of factories to win the Manufacturers’ Championship. Like with the Riders’ Championship, Ducati became the first factory from Europe to win the title as they joined Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha by celebrating their 2023 success. The next goal will be for Ducati to emulate Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki to retain their title next season.
THE FIRST NEXT GENERATION BIKE TO WIN: a milestone in WorldSSP
A new ruleset was introduced for 2022 to open up WorldSSP to more machines. Two manufacturers returned that year – Triumph, with the Street Triple RS 765, and Ducati with the Panigale V2 – while MV Agusta introduced the F3 800 RR. Triumph and MV Agusta were able to win last season before Ducati were on the top step this year. 15 wins in total (14 for Bulega, one for Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team)) helped Ducati to their first title and the first for a Next Generation bike, a big milestone in World Superport history.
ENDING YAMAHA’S STREAK: Ducati prevent seventh heaven for Yamaha
Yamaha had been the reference having won the title between 2017 and 2022. Lucas Mahias, Sandro Cortese, Randy Krummenacher, Andrea Locatelli, and Dominique Aegerter (twice) all claimed the title for Yamaha, and they were in contention throughout 2023 with Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) but Ducati were able to overhaul their rivals to end their streak at six. The Bologna-based manufacturer were also able to prevent Yamaha from edging closer to Honda’s record of eight consecutive titles, set between 2003 and 2010.
CELEBRATIONS ALL ROUND: a Saturday to remember
Not only did Ducati win the Manufacturers’ Championship in WorldSSP with Bulega’s Race 1 win on Saturday at Portimao, but Alvaro Bautista’s also (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) victory on the same day allowed the Italian brand to win the same title in WorldSBK. Bulega’s victory allowed the #11 to be crowned World Champion for the first time. Three titles were secured on a single day, a day that’ll live long in the memory for everyone at the Aruba.it Racing squad and Ducati Corse.
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Source: WorldSBK.com