We kick off this weeks edition with a look back at the Indonesian round of WorldSBK at Mandalika. After a dominant performance at Phillip Island the previous week, Alvaro Bautista slipped almost seamlessly back into the groove with the fastest times through free practice but missed out on pole position when it mattered most in Qualifying as the Pata Yamaha pair of Toprak and Locatelli took the honours. Parity was restored in Race 1 as the
reigning World Champion stamped his authority on the series once again before crashing out of the Superpole race on Sunday morning as he drifted off the narrow single racing line. A red-flagged race two helped the Spaniard improve his grid position and despite an early lead for team-mate Rinaldi, Bautista snatched victory in the closing stages to make it five out of six victories in ’23… Should they just tell him to keep the crown for next year already?!

Its been a struggle for Taz Mackenzie in the first four races of his World Supersport career. The Mie Honda man took a bold fifth place in the wet at Phillip Island but when the track is dry the under- powered Honda CBR600RR is no match for the front runners in the championship. Taz is a scrapper and is picking up points wherever he can while knowing the limitations of his machine. Hopefully, the much-needed parts will arrive for Assen in six weeks when the Scottish Englishman can really make his presence felt on a track he knows well.