Portimao WorldSBK: Alvaro Bautista: ‘Amazing to be part of Ducati success’, Toprak ‘kept pushing 100%’

Alvaro Bautista’s latest WorldSBK win has seen Ducati clinch the 2023 Manufacturers’ title, while also bringing him a step closer to the Riders’ championship.
Alvaro Bautista, Ducati WorldSBK Portimao 2023
Alvaro Bautista, Ducati WorldSBK Portimao 2023

After a brilliant start, Bautista’s title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu led into turn one before a fierce b𝓀attle with the Ducati rider and Jonathan 🧸Rea.

Nearly four tenths down on Bautista in sector four throughout the weekend, Razgatlioglu was responding at every opportunity until Bautista finally put enough of a margin be🦋tween himself and the Yamaha star🍒.

Bautista’s race-wi🃏nning overtake came at the third time of asking before eventually clearing off by two seconds.

“Today has been a really good day for Ducati 🍃because they have won the manufacturers titꦰle,” Bautista told WorldSBK.com. “I am so happy to be part of this success. Congrats to all of Ducati and all the people that are working really hard to have this achievement. 

“I’m so happy, alsꦫo for my side because today was a really hard day for me. In Superpole we made changes to th🦄e bike to make a bit more for the fast lap. 

“But we did it incorrectly so I could not 🥂make a fast lap time. But in any case, I had confidence for the race. 

“Track conditions were very tricky and the wind was not consistent. Not every lap was the same and it was quite difficult to understand and get the referen♌ce. 

“At the beginning I really enjoyed the battle with Jonathan and T𝄹oprak. When I took the lead it was difficult to have the same pace as yesterday o📖r this morning. 

“Toprak was pushing a lot and 🐻I was looking at the gap and it was always the same. Congrats to him becau𒅌se he made a big improvement.”

Despite a heroic effort and one that again saw Razgatlioglu put his incredible talent on 🎀display, the Turkish rider had no answer for Bautista’s sustained pace.

Speaking after the race, Razgatlioglu said: “This morn💫ing, I didn’t use the SCX tyre, we just kept trying thඣe SC0 tyre for the race as it’s always important. 

“In Superpole, I did a good a l🔯ap time but it wasn’t enough and I was at my limit. We made a good start in the race and we fought a little bit with Alvaro, with a very strong pace. 

“Every lap, I kept pushing a lot, more than 100%, to try to take the best position. At the final corner and on the straight, Alvaro🐬 was really strong but, in every corner, we were coming step by step but it’s not easy. 

“In the last lap, I felt the rear tyres drop but I was waiting for Alvaro’s to do the same but his pace was veryꦐ strong in the final l🦄aps.”

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