Misano WorldSBK: Colour change but result stays the same as Rinaldi calls Bautista “unbelievable”

Alvaro Bautista’s dominant 2023 WorldSBK campaign continued in Race 1 at Misano as he cleared off ahead of teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi.
Alvaro Bautista, Ducati WorldSBK Misano 2023
Alvaro Bautista, Ducati WorldSBK Misano 2023

While the🎉 early laps saw Rinaldi♛ stay within reach of the WorldSBK champion, Bautista’s rhythm was sensational throughout as he continued to lap in the high 1m 33s and low 1m 34s.

With others began to lose pace as expected du🎃e to tyre wear, Bautista kept pumping in fast lap 🌼times which eventually led to him opening a huge lead. 

"Today, I'm happy because it has been a good day for Ducati," said Bautista. "I had really good feedback again with the bike, even in thꦦo🍬se conditions. 

"In Rac༺e 1, it was really warm, and the feeling wi🌸th the bike was amazing. Now I can be very consistent and very fast from the first lap, so I'm happy. 

"Maybe it seems easy from the outside🎉, but believe me, I had to push very hard to maintain this race pace. 

"I was 𓆉in the 1'33s high, 1'34s low for almost the entire race, and it was not easy. However, I was enjoying every corner, and I was able toꦺ stay focused and concentrated throughout the race."

While Rinaldi was comfortably beaten by Bautista again, 🌳the Italian was easily the second best rider.

After droppiඣng Toprak Razgatlioglu early on, Rinaldi suffered no repeat of his tyre dramas from the final race in Mandalika, as he instead kept a solid pace.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi , Race 1, Emilia-Romagna WorldSBK, 3 June
Michael Ruben Rinaldi , Race 1, Emilia-Romagna WorldSBK, 3 June

Rinaldi finished over three seconds clear of the Yamaha rider which was a margin he managed to open up by mid-race ♈distance. 

Rinaldi said: "𒅌I’m very happy for myself and for the team because it was a 1-2 and that’s always great! 

"I’m re𓆉ally happy about my kind of p𓂃erformance, I didn’t expect to have this kind of race pace, but I was able to lap quickly. 

"I couldn’🌄t explain how Alvaro was doing his pace, he was ri🍌ding absolutely unbelievably, so he deserves the win. 

"I’m happy about what we’ve done; compared to last ඣyear and in 2021 when I won, I’m seven or eight tenths faster per lap so I’m really happy about this. For sure, I’ll try and win sooner or later. I🌱’m really happy about this result."

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