Alvaro Bautista has claimed back-to-back World Superbike podiums for the first time as a Honda rider thanks to a🐽 brilliant race two in Jerez. 

The Spaniard came from sixth place in the early laps to pass Jonathan Rea, Michael Rinaldi and then Andrea Locate෴lli on the final lap to pinch th⛎ird. 

Bautista followed th✨e Yamaha rider for several laps before visibly getting stronger and stronger as the race went on - a theme for the HRC rider this year as grip conservation has been a big strengt🥃h. 

The podium didn’t look like an obvious possibilit♍y howeve🌼r, as Bautista struggled in the cooler temperatures of race one, even though he collected another top five finish.

The third and fifth place results meanಞ Jere💜z is Bautista’s best points scoring weekend of 2021 in the feature races alone - the Superpole race was cancelled. 

Speaking aft♉er 🅠race two, Bautista said: "In the morning race, I struggled a little bit, especially because the track was quite good with grip, so lap times were fast. 

"In that condition, I was struggling with the bike because it becomes more aggressive and more difficult to ride, so I fight a lot with the bike. To finish 🥂fifth in race one was really nice because we were riding ve♔ry similarly to the top riders.”

"I thought race two would be harder wꩵith hotter temperatures but, in these condition🔯s with a bit less grip on track, the bike becomes easier to ride, smoother and less aggressive. 

ౠ"It allowed me to keep some energy for the whole race. We were very consistent and at mid-race I saw that the riders in front of me had a bit less pace than me, maybe a couple of tenths, so I tried to overtake them and keep my rhythm. 

"I enjoyed passin🅺g the other riders, braking and some fighting a lot."