Rea, Bautista Split WorldSBK
Aragon Opener
T
he opening chords of the
2022 WorldSBK thrash metal
tour were played at full volume at
Aragon, April 8-10, demanding
attention even on a weekend with
MotoGP doing its country music
thing over in COTA.
With a new WorldSBK king
crowned last year in the shape
of Toprak Razgatlioglu, and
with the old king Jonathan Rea
aiming to move from King Jonny
the sixth to Jonny the seventh
this year—and then also the man
who should have been king in
2019, Alvaro Bautista, back in the
Ducati factory court—there is the
prospect of an even closer three-
way fight for the championship
in 2022 than the two-plus-one
battle with Razgatlioglu, Rea and
Scott Redding (on a Ducati) last
year.
Superpole qualifying went to
Razgatlioglu, at a new record of
1'48.267. Bautista was second,
Rea third, all on the new SCQ
rear tire.
The first 18-lap WorldSBK race
of the season blew the mind and
stirred the soul of everyone who
watched it, as first three, then
almost four—and finally two—rid-
ers battled so hard they touched
on occasions and passed each
other at every possible moment.
Rea led across the line for the
first four laps, then Razgatlioglu,
constantly attacking and oc-
casionally passing, got ahead
before Rea and Bautista both
passed him with one spellbinding
IN
THE
WIND
P38
Jonathan Rea leads Alvaro
Bautista in the first nail-biting
race in the WorldSBK opener
at Aragon. The two passed
each other a couple of times
on the last lap with Rea taking
the win.
PHOTOS: GOLD & GOOSE
