P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alvaro Bautista clinches 2023 World Superbike title at Jerez
Bautista secured his 25th win in the 20-lap race, defeating his closest rival Razgatlioglu by a margin of 1.195 seconds. With only two races left, Bautista now has an unbeatable 65-point lead, as only 37 points are still up for grabs. This makes him Ducati’s first repeat champion since 2006 and the first rider of the Italian brand to successfully defend a title since 1999. Bautista only needed to score two points to win the championship, while Razgatlioglu needed a victory. Bautista led from pole position and was able to create a comfortable gap, winning by as much as four seconds. Locatelli finished third, and Rea claimed fourth in his final weekend with Kawasaki. Bautista’s dominance was evident throughout the season, winning at least one race in all 12 race weekends. His early successes at Phillip Island, Assen, Barcelona, and Misano established him as the favorite to defend his crown. A crash at Imola and a punctured tire for Razgatlioglu at Most dimmed his chances of a comeback. Razgatlioglu’s last races for Yamaha will take place on Sunday before he switches to BMW, while Rea will join Yamaha in 2024 after bidding farewell to Kawasaki.
Source: motorsport
