The season might have only begun, but it already looks like Alvaro Bautista is the rider to watch out for again this season, after a blistering opening to the season so far.
In the earlier Superpole race, it was the reigning World Champion that won and claimed pole position for the second race of the weekend, with Michael Ruben Rinaldi second and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu finishing third to complete the front row for the race later in the day.
The Kawasaki duo of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes immediately went on the attack at the start of the race as they attempted to hunt down Iker Lecuona after the climbed up the order early on in the race.
Razgatlıoğlu would have also been disappointed with his race start as he fell to sixth before crashing out late in the race after Lowes the front end of his bike heading into the Miller Corner on lap 17 and collected the Turksish rider, leaving both with no option other than retire from the race.
Jonathan Rea then enjoyed a great overtake down the inside of Axel Bassani as he climbed up to fourth on the leaderboard.
Tom Sykes’ race then came to an end as he slid off the bike, with very visible disappointment shown from the British rider afterwards.
Then it was time for the six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea to be on the end of a move we have seen him pull off so many times, as Axel Bassani pushes him to the edge of the track to get the better run into the corner and moved up to fourth.
But out front was Alvaro Bautista, who dominated the weekend overall with three wins out of three. Michael Ruben Rinaldi finished in the second to give the Arbua.it Racing – Ducati team a one-two finish.
There were also celebrations in the pitlane for Yamaha, as Andrea Locatelli came home in third.