SBK Australia: Italy strong in race 2, but Bautista takes the win

Bautista 3 – the rest of the grid 0. This was the result at Phillip Island, where the Spaniard was on another level again in race 2. From pole, Alvaro gradually built a convincing lead to cruise across the line in first place. Win number 35 for Bautista, who now places fifth on the all-time list.

All to the detriment of Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu, who have little to smile about. The Northern Irish rider had to deal with a drop in tyre performance that saw him close eighth. And the Turk came off even worse, knocked down by Alex Lowes at turn 4 while battling for fourth.

With two thirds of the big three excluded from the podium, it was Italy who celebrated, with a perfect Michael Rinaldi and Andrea Locatelli securing second and third place respectively. An honourable mention goes to Andrea, the only non-Ducati rider to place in the top five. In fourth, Axel Bassani, who was once again able to improve on his starting position and close ahead of an equally impressive Philip Oettl, who leaves Australia with increased confidence.

Top ten for Petrucci

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A positive sixth place for Iker Lecuona, the best Honda rider by far over the weekend, followed by Dominique Aegerter and the aforementioned Rea. Another top ten for Danilo Petrucci who had to settle for ninth after battling for a potential top five earlier in the race.

Xavi Vierge rounded out the top ten, followed by Remy Gardner, who received a long lap penalty after colliding with Aegerter in the Superpole Race. Michael Van Der Mark the best BMW rider in thirteenth, sixteenth for Lorenzo Baldassarri.