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the closely following Xavi Fores (Barni Ducati) unable to avoid him. With Laverty needing im- mediate attention, the race was red-flagged. With over 2/3 of the race distance completed, Race Direction called it a result. A poor end to a generally gild- ed season ultimately delivered overdue success for Bautista, Ducati and Aruba.it. Bautista finished the champion- ship with 601 points, followed by Razgatlioglu with 529, Rea 502 and Michael Ruben Rinaldi 279. WorldSSP More strange results, more strange weather, and two novel- ties of the highest order were the watchwords of race one, as Yari Montella (Kawasaki Pucceti Rac- ing) used his front row qualifying position to ride in the front group and ended up in a man-to-man fight with Federico Caricasulo (Althea Ducati) for the win. The thoroughly wet weather made for a tricky surface, and there were seven non-finishers, including both MV Agustas. The most significant faller was Caricasulo, on the last of the 19 laps, as he lost the front under braking at turn four, leaving Montella, the rookie, a free run to the flag. It was his first season, his first podium, never mind his first win—and the first Kawasaki WorldSSP win since the opening race of last season's final round. Is there a pattern forming? Second place on Saturday went to the early fastest rider on the final weekend of the year, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba Racing Ducati), and third to Montella's teammate, Can Oncu. With that win, Montella had ensured that four of the five com- peting manufacturers had won a race in 2022. In race two, new champ Domi- nique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) rose to the challenge once again to record another race win in his second champi- onship-winning season, taking his season victory total to 17 and his career total to 27. The second most successful winning WSSP rider in history behind the great Kenan Sofuoglu and his 43 wins. After just two seasons, to boot. Caricasulo scored second place in race two after his race one disappointment, but still no Ducati victory in 2022, a season in which everyone else in WorldSSP was so worried that their massive V-twin engine and track-oriented design would be unbeatable. Championship runner-up Bal- dassarri was third on a Yamaha R6 that was still the benchmark for the class in the first year of the Next Generation bikes. Aegerter has 498 points in the final standings, Baldassarri 388, Oncu 264 and Bulega 242. All five manufacturers had at least one rider in the overall top eight by season end. CN WorldSBK Results Race One 1. Jonathan Rea (Kaw) 2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yam) 3. Alex Lowes (Kaw) 4. Andrea Locatelli (Yam) 5. Alvaro Bautista (Duc) Superpole Race 1. Alvaro Bautista (Duc) 2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yam) 3. Jonathan Rea (Kaw) 4. Alex Lowes (Kaw) 5. Andrea Locatelli (Yam) Race Two 1. Alvaro Bautista (Duc) 2. Jonathan Rea (Kaw) 3. Alex Lowes (Kaw) 4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yam) 5. Andrea Locatelli (Yam) IN THE WIND P46 After an up-and-down rookie season, Yari Montella was an ecstatic first-time WorldSSP winner in race one.