In a dramatic WorldSBK Race 2 at Most, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) emerged as the star of the day, securing a historic 18th win of the season and setting a new all-time record of season wins. The race took a thrilling turn as Bautista’s title rival, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), crashed out from the lead, handing Bautista a 25-point swing in the Championship standings. Meanwhile, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) engaged in a fierce battle for the remaining podium positions, with Petrucci ultimately edging out Rea by a mere 0.073 seconds to secure second place.
Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) displayed remarkable resilience, recovering from an early setback when he ran through the gravel at the chicane. Despite losing time, Bassani fought back and finished just 0.061 seconds off the podium in fourth place. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) secured fifth place after a closely contested battle in the closing stages. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) impressed with a solid sixth-place finish, marking his strongest weekend in the WorldSBK Championship so far.
Bautista’s 50th WorldSBK victory sets a new all-time record of 18 wins in a single season, extending his Championship lead to 74 points.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“I didn’t expect to win this weekend, especially after a really tough Friday and Saturday. I always believed in myself, tried to be calm and do my best. The Superpole Race was the key. I knew it was important to have a good race and improve the position from P14 on the grid for Race 2. I was fifth or sixth on Lap 1, I think it was one of the best starts of my life. When I was fourth, I was lapping similarly to the three guys in front of me and I thought P4 was nice for Race 2. After mid-race, I saw Bassani dropping a little bit. When it was two laps to go, I tried to close the gap and did my best lap on the penultimate lap. I was very close in the last two corners, and I knew I was a bit stronger than him there.
Third position was nice for Race 2. I had a good battle with Toprak. He always tried to put the bike on the inside at Turn 1. Even if we missed the corner, he was in front. One time, I tried to stay on the inside, but I didn’t want to miss the first corner to avoid him passing me exiting between Turns 1 and 2. He came from the outside and the same. He missed the corner, but he was in front! It was fun. In races, anything can happen until the chequered flag. It’s the good and bad thing about racing. I’m really happy.”
Danilo Petrucci snatched second place from Rea in a thrilling battle, securing his third career podium in WorldSBK.
Jonathan Rea finished third, adding to his impressive tally of 256 career podiums, but loses ground to Bautista in the title fight.
Axel Bassani showed resilience after an early setback, missing the podium by a mere 0.061 seconds.
Remy Gardner impressed with a solid sixth-place finish, displaying consistent pace throughout the race, and concluding his strongest WorldSBK weekend to date.
A highside crash in the second half of the race proved costly for Razgatlioglu, as he lost 25 points to Bautista in the Championship standings.
WorldSBK Race 2 Results
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +4.652s
3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +4.725s
4. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +4.786s
5. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +7.538s
6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +10.717s
WSSP
Mackenzie masterclass: Honda’s triumph in unpredictable Race 2
In a thrilling and unpredictable WorldSSP Race 2 at Autodrom Most, Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) emerged as the unexpected hero. As rain showers swept the circuit, the race became a battle of strategy and nerves.
Mackenzie’s decision not to pit for wet tires when the rain began proved to be a game-changer. Starting from 22nd on the grid, he showcased his skill on slicks, gaining significant time on his rivals and securing his first-ever WorldSSP victory, as Honda celebrated their first WorldSSP victory since 2016. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse also on slicks, finished in second place, while his teammate Bahattin Sofuoglu demonstrated resilience, recovering from a mid-race crash and a Long Lap Penalty to take the final spot on the podium.
John McPhee’s (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing) bold tire strategy paid off as well, earning him a strong fourth-place finish, while Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) showcased Honda’s potential with an impressive fifth position. Making a remarkable return to the Championship as a wildcard rider, Thomas Gradinger (Eder Racing) secured a top-six finish.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)’s 16th place finish and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha)’s unfortunate retirement marked a challenging race for both title contenders
Mackenzie’s sensational victory in Race 2 came from a daring tire gamble, as he chose not to pit during the rain, showcasing his exceptional skill and adaptability in challenging conditions.
P1 | Tarran Mackenzie | PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team
“It’s such a special day for me and also for all of the team and everybody involved. I have to thank Midori and the whole of the Petronas team. It’s been a very difficult season, not just for me, but for the whole team. We expected the package to be maybe a little bit stronger than it is, but every weekend we’re improving. This weekend, we actually made a small step which allowed us to fight a little bit more.
Obviously starting P21 or 22, I did not expect to be near the front and when I saw the rain, I thought this was my chance to maybe get some points, not nearly a win, just some points. When I got into the lead, I just had to focus and count the laps and to win.
The decision to not pit wasn’t difficult because my mechanic told me, “just please don’t come and just keep riding around very much like the WorldSSP300 race yesterday.” So, I had this on my mind the whole time and I just kept going and pretended like there was no rain. And the gap went to maybe 8 seconds at one point, and it was just hard to believe. I didn’t know what was going on. It was crazy, and to win was amazing!”
Schroetter’s tenacity paid off with a second-place finish, consolidating his third place in the Championship standings.
Despite a crash and a LLP, Sofuoglu finished third, contributing to a successful day for MV Agusta.
WorldSSP Race 2 Results
1. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team)
2. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +2.037s
3. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +18.857s
4. John McPhee (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing) +21.046s
5. Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) +22.206s
6. Thomas Gradinger (Eder Racing) +38.970s
Credit WSBK Press Release
