Reigning Motul FIM Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista claimed a hat trick of wins in the opening rounds of the 2023 season at Australia's Phillip Island circuit last weekend (25-26 February).

The Ducati ace's title defence didn't quite get off to a perfect start as 2021 champion Toprak Razgatlioglu powered to pole position on his Pata Yamaha, but in a wet season opener on Saturday, Bautista showed his class to take victory.

Leading at the first corner, he was passed by Kawasaki's six-time champion Jonathan Rea at turn 10. The pair moved away from the pack, but Rea wasn't able to drop the Spaniard, who made a decisive move at the high-speed Stoner Corner on lap 10. From there, he held on to a lurid slide a couple of laps later, but was still cruised to victory over three seconds ahead of Rea, while Razgatlioglu completed the podium.

Bautista again took the lead at the start of the Tissot Superpole race on Saturday, but lost the advantage once more on the opening lap, this time to Razgatlioglu. However he made amends almost immediately, retaking the position at the start of the second lap and storming to another victory, this time 2.4 seconds clear of teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who also passed Razgatlioglu early on, with the Turk settling for third. Rea meanwhile lost ground on the opening lap, and could only take seventh.

With the grid positions for the final race determined by the results of the Superpole contest, Bautista was in the ideal position to complete the hat-trick. This time he led for the entire contest, becoming the most successful WorldSBK rider at Phillip Island in the process, the win being his eighth at the venue.

Rinaldi again took second place, six seconds in arrears, while Yamaha's Andrea Locatelli took his first podium of the season with third. It was another tough race for Rea who was eighth while Razgatlioglu's weekend ended in retirement after a clash with Alex Lowes.

In the early championship standings, Bautista leads the way with 62 points, 28 points clear of Locatelli with Rinaldi third courtesy of his two podiums. Rea is equal on points with the Italian, while Razgatlioglu is only sixth due to his final race retirement.

Click here for race one results
Click here for Tissot Superpole results
Click here for race two results
Click here for championship standings

The championship moves on to Indonesia, Netherlands, Spain and Italy before the UK round at Donington Park on 30 June-2 July. Tickets are on sale now and include access to the Paddock Show, with savings available by purchasing in advance. For more information and to book, click here.