Rookie Alberto Surra took on Oliveira and Bautista – and won!

Motocorsa boss Lorenzo Mauri has a keen eye for new Superbike talent. Given how competitively Alberto Surra performed against seasoned riders Miguel Oliveira (BMW) and Álvaro Bautista (Ducati) at the Superbike meeting on the Circuito do Estoril, the rookie is a real prospect for the future.

Surra had already secured a podium finish in third place in the first main race on Saturday and confirmed his form with two further third-place finishes on Sunday. In the Superpole race, he prevailed over the BMW works rider after a lap-long battle. Even more impressive was the way the 22-year-old engaged in a thrilling duel with the in-form Spaniard in the second race, who crashed five laps from the end whilst under pressure from Surra.

“My best weekend so far – and for my team too,” said Surra, beaming from ear to ear. “In the Superpole race, Oliveira was really very good and fast. However, Ducati and my team managed to make a further improvement to the electronics, and I was able to overtake him on the final lap after all. In the second race, I wasn’t actually in third place – but Álvaro crashed in front of me and I inherited a podium finish, which of course made me happy. Although I’d probably have caught him anyway, because my rear tyre still had plenty of grip. We’d already been overtaking each other earlier, and I could see he had very little grip left.”

Willkommen in Estoril

Foto: Gold & Goose

Yari Montella

Foto: Gold & Goose

Miguel Oliveira

Foto: Gold & Goose

Alberto Surra

Foto: Gold & Goose

Nicolò Bulega

Foto: Gold & Goose

Lorenzo Baldassarri

Foto: Gold & Goose

Alex Lowes

Foto: Gold & Goose

Iker Lecuona

Foto: Gold & Goose

Nicolò Bulega

Foto: Gold & Goose

Jake Dixon

Foto: Gold & Goose

Yari Montella

Foto: Gold & Goose

Miguel Oliveira

Foto: Gold & Goose

Axel Bassani

Foto: Gold & Goose

Lorenzo Baldassarri

Foto: Gold & Goose

Álvaro Bautista

Foto: Gold & Goose

Nicolò Bulega gewinnt beide Läufe in Estoril

Foto: Gold & Goose

Bulega und Lecuona

Foto: Gold & Goose

Lecuona, Bulega, Surra

Foto: Gold & Goose

Sieger Nicolò Bulega

Foto: Gold & Goose

Yari Montella

Foto: Gold & Goose

Willkommen in Estoril

© Gold & Goose

You really have to let that sink in: Surra is 22 years old and a Superbike rookie. His rivals are established top riders with MotoGP experience. Oliveira is nine years older and a five-time MotoGP winner, whilst Bautista is a two-time Superbike World Champion and has 63 race wins to his name!

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“That’s brilliant,” says the Motocorsa rider. “I’m particularly proud that I can battle it out with Álvaro – for me, he’s one of the best riders in the Superbike World Championship and in MotoGP too, and his riding style is fantastic.”