Álvaro Bautista was in contention for victory in the second World Superbike race at Phillip Island until the end. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki) ultimately prevailed, relegating the two-time world champion to second place.
The decisive overtake occurred in turn nine, with the British rider taking an outside line. A maneuver that surprised Bautista due to the location where it was executed, as the Spaniard explained to the championship’s website:
– I expected that they could pass me easily. In that corner, around the outside… no! I expected it at easier points. I tried to be close through the last corner but through the left turns, I always had a lot of problems. I couldn’t carry the speed mid-corner so it was really difficult.