BACK TO BOLOGNA: Ducati crowned Manufacturers’ Champions after Race 1 at Phillip Island
They’ve done the triple, they’re taking the titles home: a phenomenal year sees Ducati take the Manufacturers’ title and the Teams’ title, just a week after the Riders’ title
Whilst Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) stole the show and returned to winning ways after a six-month dry spell, it was Ducati who clinched the Manufacturers’ Championship in Race 1 of the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round. The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit made its highly anticipated return and WorldSBK action was back with a bang Down Under with an unpredictable flag-to-flag thriller. Despite being off the podium, newly-crowned World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) came home fifth, good enough to seal the deal for Ducati as they take a first Manufacturers’ title since 2011, whilst it also gave Aruba.it Racing – Ducati the teams’ title too.
595 points scored so far have helped the legendary Italian manufacturer cement their status as the greatest manufacturer in WorldSBK statistical history, wrapping up an 18th Manufacturers’ crown in their illustrious time in the paddock. Bautista, teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Best Independent Rider for 2022, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) all contributed to the staggering tally, taking turns to come home as the best Ducati on their day. On the podium in a mesmerising 30 out of 34 races run so far this year, Ducati have been dominant in their bid to bring the title back to Bologna. Having wrapped up the Riders' title in Indonesia with Bautista, attention swiftly turned to the Manufacturers’ and whilst they missed out on a rostrum, 14 wins – all courtesy of Bautista – coupled with podiums for Rinaldi and top five showings for Bassani have meant that Ducati built up what was to turn out to be unassailable points gap to defending Champions Yamaha.
Speaking about the success, Ducati Corse’s General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna spoke highly of the manufacturer’s latest success in 2022: “After Alvaro Bautista's won the World Superbike Riders' Championship, being able to get the Manufacturers’ Championship as well is a further source of pride for us. It is an important goal, which repays all the efforts and the work done with great commitment, passion and dedication by the men and women of Ducati Corse. It is our 18th Manufacturers’ title in WorldSBK, and it is the first one obtained with our Panigale V4 R, a bike that has given us great satisfaction since 2019. As always, however, special thanks go to all the Ducati riders who were able to interpret it at its best and who, with their results, have allowed us to achieve this historic success. Congratulations also to the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team for winning the title of best WorldSBK team this season.”
Alvaro Bautista also joined in on the praise and was proud to be an integral part in what has turned out to be one of the strongest combinations in recent years: “For sure, we won today two more Championships. The Manufacturers’ Championship with Ducati, they did the double triple this year as they won everything in MotoGP™ and here in WorldSBK as well. I’m so proud to be part of that. Also, as a team, we won the title so I’m so happy because Michael also had an incredible season. He is almost fourth in the Championship so he’s after the titanic trio, so I’m happy for him, for the team and I think it has been an amazing year for the whole of Ducati, in both the Championship and also for me personally. It’s been one of the best years of my career.”
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