The sun was setting (even though the sun doesn’t move, the earth moves, but never mind) on the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto returned after a year absence and wow, it was back with a bang! After title celebrations for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in Race 1, a first podium of his WorldSBK career for Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in the Superpole Race, Race 2 was always going to be emotional, with farewells and points to prove. Enjoy Race 1 and Race 2 here, whilst catching up on a dramatic Superpole Race – DON’T FORGET TO HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON!

35 passes for the in the whole race at Portimao? “Hold my beer” said Jerez; 11 laps to go, 38 passes at the front of the final WorldSBK race of the season and you can guess the pair! Bautista aiming to sign off his 2023 season with a triple, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) aiming to give the perfect gift to his Yamaha team in his last race with them before his BMW challenge in 2024. All this coming after Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) crashed from the lead in his final race in Kawasaki, albeit remounting but finishing out of the points.

Between Bautista and Razgatlioglu, only three turns weren’t used for overtaking – Turns 3 and 4 (who can blame them?) and Turn 7. Paul Denning went on to call it the “best WorldSBK race ever” after the race but the on-track action was alive. It went to the final corner of the season, Bautista sliding sideways up the inside, Toprak cutting back and standing the Champion up. A race to the line, Toprak held on but in his ambition to win, exceeding track limits on the exit of the final corner, giving Bautista the win. Incredible scenes to send WorldSBK into winter in style. Watch Rea’s farewell from a whole new perspective here, as well as Toprak’s emotional Yamaha goodbye here.

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The last round of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto and it was match-point in Race 1 for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). He needed just two points from the entire weekend to be crowned Champion for a second time and he wasn’t going to miss out on getting it sorted straight away. Enjoy Race 1 and Race 2 here as well as a dramatic Superpole Race – and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more cool content.

Leading every lap from start to finish and going relatively unchallenged, Alvaro Bautista put on a true Champion’s display. A Ducati rider hadn’t defended the title successfully in over 20 years with the #1 but now, a modern great had cemented his name in the record books. Bautista became World Superbike Champion for a second time, this time doing it at home in front of a packed Jerez crowd. Great scenes of sportsmanship from main title contender Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) were on show, as was a congratulations from arch-rival Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Donning a second gold suit in as many years and with the fireworks going off all around, the atmosphere was absolutely electric. Watch Bautista’s title success in a special episode of Unfiltered, here!

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Six races remained as we approached Portimao for the Portuguese Round in the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. After winning in Race 1, Sunday could have been the day which saw #TheDefence completed by Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). A certain Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) had other ideas and was riding the best we’d ever seen, although ultimately it wouldn’t be enough for the glory of race victory. Enjoy Race 1 and Race 2 HERE, as well as the Superpole Race and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more cool content!

It started in the Tissot Superpole Race; Razgatlioglu led every lap and despite having a gap in the middle of the race, there was a Bautista-shaped shark closing in. On the last lap, the #1 was right with the #54 but Toprak held on down the front straight. Into the final corner, Bautista once again got close and this time, he was able to pounce, diving under Razgatlioglu on the exit to deny the Turk right at the close – similar to their battle at Estoril in 2022 from Race 1. Bautista led just one lap but it was the most important; Toprak smashed his screen and threw his gloves in anger and was out to prove a point in Race 2.

An instant classic and straight into the top five races of all-time, Razgatlioglu was relentless and Bautista battle-ready. From the start until the end, 35 passes for the lead between the two. The Ducati rider often leading down the straight, only for the Yamaha star to fight back into either Turn 1, Turn 5, Turn 11 or Turn 13. The 35^th pass would be the most important; again, closing up to Toprak in the final corner but this time with a different strategy, Bautista was wise to Toprak’s tighter line on exit after his Superpole Race triumph and in-turn, adapted to go to the outside, blasting around the #54 to take the win. Elation for Bautista but even more frustration for Toprak, smashing the screen again, this time so hard that his own airbag had activated. Tears in Parc Ferme for the Turkish star whilst Bautista now needed two points at Jerez to take the title. Elsewhere in the weekend, more Ducati success as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) took the WorldSSP crown and in WorldSSP300, MTM Kawasaki’s Jeffrey Buis became the first double Champion in the class.

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Round 10 of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign was held at MotorLand Aragon, and the Spanish venue did not disappoint. From the Race 1 drama of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashing twice to teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi returning to winning ways, it really did have it all. The Tissot Superpole Race is one that will live long in the memory as the ‘Titanic Trio’ – Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) – fought tooth and nail for victory. Catch up on the Race 1 and Race 2 HERE and watch Superpole Race highlights on YouTube – make sure you subscribe, too!

Bautista was looking to bounce back from his Race 1 disappointment whilst Razgatlioglu and Rea were looking to take points out of the Championship leader. The #1 got the holeshot heading into Turn 1 but six-time Champion Rea responded immediately to stay ahead with Razgatlioglu in hot pursuit. With eight laps to go, the #54 looked to move into second ahead of Bautista but the Spaniard resisted, with Rea out in front. With four laps to go, the Ducati rider made his move for the lead at Turn 1 with Rea resisting around the outside and holding position into Turn 2, which allowed the 2021 Champion to claim P2 at Turn 3. The fight would come down to the final lap and final turns, but who came out on top?

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MotorLand Aragon hosted Round 10 of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and what looked like it could’ve been a straightforward weekend for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was anything but. In contrast, teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi was back to his best, and returned to winning ways in Ducati’s big moment of need. Re-watch the Race 1 and Race 2 action right HERE and check out highlights of the Tissot Superpole Race on YouTube – don’t forget to subscribe to the WorldSBK channel too!

The reigning Champion headed into the Aragon Round as clear favourite, leading the title race and looking to put one hand on the Championship before the next round. However, Saturday did not go his way. A crash at Turn 8 when leading comfortably dropped him to the back of the field before he was able to recover into the points-paying positions. Looking to make a move for P14 on the final lap, the Spaniard came off his bike again and scored no points. Despite the disappointment for the #1, there was joy on the other side of the box as Michael Ruben Rinaldi took full advantage to win his first race in two years. It was the scene of his first WorldSBK win back in 2020 and his latest too, despite being replaced at the team for 2024 by Nicolo Bulega. Mixed emotions in the Aruba Ducati box, but Bautista had the consolation of still leading the title race.

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Source: WorldSBK.com