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The sun was setting (even though the sun doesn’t move, the earth moves, but never mind) on the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto returned after a year absence and wow, it was back with a bang! After title celebrations for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in Race 1, a first podium of his WorldSBK career for Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in the Superpole Race, Race 2 was always going to be emotional, with farewells and points to prove. Enjoy Race 1 and Race 2 here, whilst catching up on a dramatic Superpole Race – DON’T FORGET TO HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON!

35 passes for the in the whole race at Portimao? “Hold my beer” said Jerez; 11 laps to go, 38 passes at the front of the final WorldSBK race of the season and you can guess the pair! Bautista aiming to sign off his 2023 season with a triple, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) aiming to give the perfect gift to his Yamaha team in his last race with them before his BMW challenge in 2024. All this coming after Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) crashed from the lead in his final race in Kawasaki, albeit remounting but finishing out of the points.

Between Bautista and Razgatlioglu, only three turns weren’t used for overtaking – Turns 3 and 4 (who can blame them?) and Turn 7. Paul Denning went on to call it the “best WorldSBK race ever” after the race but the on-track action was alive. It went to the final corner of the season, Bautista sliding sideways up the inside, Toprak cutting back and standing the Champion up. A race to the line, Toprak held on but in his ambition to win, exceeding track limits on the exit of the final corner, giving Bautista the win. Incredible scenes to send WorldSBK into winter in style. Watch Rea’s farewell from a whole new perspective here, as well as Toprak’s emotional Yamaha goodbye here.

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