Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha R1) was the strongest man on race Saturday in Barcelona, but the local hero won with Alvaro Bautista (Ducati Panigale V4R). For his ninth victory in the eleventh race of the season, he had to risk significantly less than the Turk. As in 2019 in his first year for the Reds and in his world championship year 2022, the little Spaniard can rely on the superiority of his Ducati preferred by the technical commissioners of the FIM. With little risk, the races for him are currently like walks and the tension is unfortunately left behind.

The expected boredom continues

Every connoisseur of the matter was already clear in advance that the speed reduction of the Ducati Panigale V4R before the third round of the WorldSBK in Catalonia will remain as good as ineffective. Although the FIM commissioners finally took this step, it was basically a pure alibi exercise. Above all, this is reminiscent of a former VW model, the 411 and we also like to explain why. Shortly after its presentation, the Volkswagen received the acquisitions “4 courses, eleven years late”. In the reduction of the maximum speed imposed by the FIM for the Ducati, one has to speak of a long overdue measure, which was late for four years. But actually it should have been at least 500 rpm, as the first race on the Circuit de Cataluña showed. With regard to the victory, there was zero excitement and WM leader Alvaro Bautista in the first race on Saturday, his opponents continued to be drastically advantageous by the competition, his opponents without it shortly after the start. In the end, as so often, the little Spaniard has won without high risk since his return through the red and further expanded his lead in the intermediate classification.

Since 2022, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki ZX-10RR) can usually only fight for a place on the podium. But the six-time record world champion and more than a hundred times WSBK winner does not give up and always tries his best despite obvious disadvantage. Against arch rival Toprak, this was briefly not enough for once in Montmeló near Barcelona.

The Ducati Drama took place behind the lonely winner

Except for the sporty questionable value of the victory of an Aruba.it Ducati, the fight for the place in the factory team was particularly concerned with over -grapping maneuvers next to Bautista for next season. After the first run had to be canceled after a fall by Eric Granado (Mie Honda) after 3 laps, after the restart, a dramatic duel between Axel Bassani and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (both Ducati) occurred. The latter drove his compatriot in curve three in the second round from the inside fully from the inside. But the only 23-year-old Motocorsa Racing Ducati private pilot mercilessly struck in curve 10 and drove the team-mate from Bautista fully into the left leg, whereupon he fell. Shortly afterwards, Bassani was punished by the race management with a long lap penalty. Probably still in rage, the heat head from Feltre in northern Italy got on the green marking. However, there was no repetition of his criminal event with curve 1 as in Jerez at Fabio Quartararo. In the end, he was only enough for P7 behind Honda factory driver Iker Lecuona. Clearly, both Italians would have to be punished by the FIM commissioners, otherwise we have already known far too many wrong decisions from the WSBK and MotoGP of these self -made men.

Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha R1) showed a strong performance on the first day of the race in Barcelona and finished third, which continues to be in 3rd place in Toprak Razgatlioglu in the intermediate classification. With three podium places over the full distance and a second place in the sprint race (in mandalica), the Italian is therefore clearly ahead of his remaining compatriots with Bassani, Petrucci and Rinaldi as the next pursuer.

Razgatlioglu snaps Rea second plase in the last lap

In the fight for second place, until the penultimate target passage Kawasaki Ass Jonathan Rea was just ahead of his arch -rival Toprak Razgatlioglu. Only before curve 1 did the Yamaha pilot pass the global champion out of the slipstream. The Turk only managed to fall wildly when braking, but he stayed in front of Johnny and managed to keep it behind him. However, the world champion from 2021 and his pursuers drove deeper as in a category, with some over 10 seconds behind Bautista. Behind the podium, Andrea Locatelli completed the top five in front of Dominique Aegerter two Yamaha pilots. Behind Usatzani Bassani as a seventh followed Xavi Vierge (Honda), Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Ducati), Remy Gardner (Grt Yamaha) and Philipp Öttl (Goeleven Ducati). The cheese is actually bitten in the World Cup. BauTista is now almost unable to lead in front with a 61 point lead and only one injury seems to be able to stop the reigning world champion on the Ducati, which has been privileged for 4 years. Toprack already lacks 61 points with P2 in front of Locatelli (82 points behind), Rea (110), Bassani (113) and Aegerter (138).

As well in the Worldssp 600 – a clear Ducati Victory

Not as dominant as in the WSBK, but in the end it was clear, Nicolo Bulega also won an aruba.it work pilot in the middle category. With the fifth victory in the seventh season race, the former protégé of Valentino Rossis Academy was able to further expand his lead in the World Cup. Marcel Schrötter on the MV Agusta F3 800 RR was barely beaten by the Italian after a strong finish and was ultimately able to leave his arduous team -mate Bahattin Sofuoglu behind. The nephew of WSSP 600 record world champion Kenan Sofuoglu could still look forward to his first podium in the Worldssp. With Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Yamaha), another Italian crossed the target flag with Stefano Manzi. But the FIM commissioners punished him for a non -regulations -compliant long lap penalty with 3 seconds. This gave Glenn van Straalen (Yamaha) and Federico Caricasulo (Ducati) in front of Manzi.

The Turk Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta F3 800 RR) won his first podium in the first round of the fourth round of this season after he was able to prevail in a strong finish against Stefano Manzi (Yamaha R6), who then received a 3 -second penalty. Sofuoglus teammate Marcel Schrötter drove even better and won 2nd place behind Nicolo Bulega (Ducati Panigale V2). After a difficult time, Bayer is currently in top form in Moto2 and is located in the World Cup on the 3rd intermediate rank.
In the World Championship, Bulega is already 52 points ahead of Manzi as the first pursuer, who, however, follows Marcel Schrötter with only one point less close on the heels. Caricasulo already has 64 deficit on the leader with 88 points and lies in front of Niki Tuuli (FIN) and the missing Can Öncü (Kawasaki, Tur) after his fall in Assen.

Unless otherwise stated, this applies to all images (© WorldSBK).