The two-time WorldSBK champion looked poised to win Race but before Alex Lowes swept around the outside of Alvaro Bautista at turn nine�𓆉�.

A 𝐆bold move, Lowes held on across the line as Bautista had to settle for second. 

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But given the dramas ✃of Race 1, Bautista’s podium finish and P4 🤪in the Superpole Race has moved him up to fifth in the standings.

“I’m happy,” began Bautista. “Not only for the second place wh🍸ich I think was the maximum I could achieve today, because it was a really tricky race w🔴ith the red flag.

“I managed the situation very well and tried to push as much as I could at the end🦹 of th♚e race, but I had some tyre problems in the last three laps.

“It was dif🦩ficult to enter the corners, to lean and to open the gas. But my feeling with the bike improved with every session and that was my target coming here.”

Bautista was closed down by Lowes and A𝄹ndrea Locatelli du🅺ring the closing stages and admitted he didn’t foresee a tyre issue coming his way.

“I didn’t expect to have the problem I had. I𒀰t was⛄ really difficult to lean and to go fast in the corners. 

“I didn’t know which rider was behind me but I expected him to not pass me easily. In that corner especially not, I exꦬpected easier ones than that one but in the left corners I was not fast anymore because of the rear.

“I tried to be fast in the last corner but it was on the left. He ꩲdid a really good race and fought to the end.”

Up next for Bautista ෴will be a trip to his home rꦍound in Barcelona, a circuit he has dominated during his time in WorldSBK.

Bautista will also test at the Catalan circuit prior to the race weekend as he looks to improve his feeling 😼with the Panigale V4 R.

Bautista added: “The tes🐼t🐼 will be another chance to work on myself and the bike and to get more confidence.

“Our target is that and then, if I feel good with the bike ༒we can try something with the set-up.”