An inspired tyre gamble propels 2022 WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista to victory in the Superpole race at Phillip Island:
Ducati man Bautista was the only rider in the field to choose slicks on the grid for the 10-lap sprint, but the decision paid dividends as he was able to slice his way from 16th to a comfortable 15th win of his title-winning season.
Both Razgatlioglu and Rea had chosen a wet front tyre and intermediate rear, while Lowes had gone with intermediates all round. Lapping two seconds faster than the leaders, Bautista was back up to fifth by lap seven, as Razgatlioglu repassed Rea for the lead. Rea had no answer to Razgatlioglu in the closing stages, locking the six-time champion into his lowest position in the riders' standings since 2014, while Lowes fell short of the podium in fourth place.
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