2023’S KEY MOMENTS – ROUND 12, JEREZ: Bautista crowned Champion in front of huge home crowd
The last round of the 2023 season and the point at which a certain someone would go from red to gold for a second season in a row
The last round of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto and it was match-point in Race 1 for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). He needed just two points from the entire weekend to be crowned Champion for a second time and he wasn’t going to miss out on getting it sorted straight away. Enjoy Race 1 and Race 2 here as well as a dramatic Superpole Race – and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more cool content.
Leading every lap from start to finish and going relatively unchallenged, Alvaro Bautista put on a true Champion’s display. A Ducati rider hadn’t defended the title successfully in over 20 years with the #1 but now, a modern great had cemented his name in the record books. Bautista became World Superbike Champion for a second time, this time doing it at home in front of a packed Jerez crowd. Great scenes of sportsmanship from main title contender Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) were on show, as was a congratulations from arch-rival Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Donning a second gold suit in as many years and with the fireworks going off all around, the atmosphere was absolutely electric. Watch Bautista’s title success in a special episode of Unfiltered, here!
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