Barcelona SBK, the report card: Bautista perfect, Petrucci in difficulty

The fourth Superbike round played out in Barcelona. Or rather Alvaro Bautista’s home turf, given that all of the last six races run in Catalunya have gone to the current world champion.

Obligatory top marks to Alvaro then, but Toprak Razgatlioglu also deserves a good grade, doing well to score what he could over a weekend where a win was all but impossible. And well done to Dominique Aegerter, easily the strongest rookie, while Danilo Petrucci – among others – is left with a bitter taste.

The Barcelona report card

Alvaro Bautista 10: speed, fluidity and control. The ease with which he pulls away from the rest of the group and sets his sights on victory in each race is almost embarrassing. His contract renewal for 2024 is a problem. For everyone else.

Toprak Razgatlioglu 8.5: when consistency meets speed and talent, it’s unlikely the outcome will be disappointing. The Turk is the first of the mere mortals to cross the line in each race, proving that he’s back in top form. Just a pity that it’s only enough for second place.

Andrea Locatelli 7.5: with a grid of seesawing riders, Andrea is the very definition of consistency. Seventh in race 2 was a little disappointing but is essentially just a blemish on another weekend as a top rider.

Dominique Aegerter 7: second in Superpole was a highlight, followed up with some ups and downs in the races, fifth in race 1 his best result. It’s almost an insult to refer to him as a rookie, considering the speed and verve he’s showing.

Jonathan Rea 6.5: the crash in the Superpole Race cries out for revenge, particularly for a rider of his talents, but rain can trip up even the best of riders. The race 1 podium brought a smile at least, more than useful during what is a difficult time.

Xavi Vierge 6: a ‘satisfactory’ in terms of grade for the Spaniard, who come close to the top five in race 2, but the weekend was generally a rather colourless one, just as it was for the entire Honda fleet.

Danilo Petrucci 5: the Italian is not short on ambition and desire, but the problems are bigger than him right now, and Barcelona brought another meagre outcome. The race 1 disqualification is the classic ‘when it rains, it pours’.

Remy Gardner 5: The home air (Remy has lived in Barcelona for many years) had little effect on him, as the results confirm. The rounds continue, but progress is slow… It’ll take time before we see the real Gardner.

Tom Sykes 4: it’s sad to see a former world champion – one who held the track record up until Saturday – in the role of ghost rider. The marriage with the Puccetti team is demoralising for both parties, who may well separate ahead of time.