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In the second main on Sunday at the Autódromo Intenacional do Algarve close to Portugal’s Algarve coastline, Dominique Aegerter managed to return to his usual level of performance.

With a strong second race, Dominique Aegerter reclaimed some of what he and his Italian GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK team have been aiming for since a while. Whilst the 33-year-old Swiss rider had to settle for 14th place in the Superpole race, he put in a strong performance in the afternoon from 15th on the grid, which was rewarded with eighth place after 20 laps, just ten seconds behind winner Alvaro Bautista.

Until the season’s finale at the Circuito de Jerez at the end of October, Aegerter wants to use the break to fully heal his still ailing body.

#77 Dominique AEGERTER (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK, Yamaha YZF R1)
Grid position 17 / Superpole Race: P14 / Grid position 15 / Race 2: P8

"We made a step in the warm-up. That was not visible in the result, but we were closer to the top. We were also able to improve the feeling a bit in Superpole Race. Still, it was difficult to overtake the guys in front of me, and there is not much time to make up so much ground in just ten laps. In the second race I think I found my old level of performance again. But it was not just thanks to the rider, but also to the efforts of the whole team that we found something that gave me more confidence. I think finishing the race just ten seconds behind Bautista is a strong achievement. Of course, we also benefited a bit from the incident involving some riders in turn three, where we gained some positions. But towards the end of the race our pace became stronger and stronger. Unfortunately, on the last lap I made a small mistake when I went a bit wide when trying to pass Petrucci. In this situation, Lecuona immediately took advantage of. Until the finish line I tried twice time more to overtake him again."

"I am a bit annoyed that I missed out on sixth or seventh place. But our performance with eighth place was in line with what we have been missing for a few races. It is a nice end to the weekend and a belated birthday present. A big thank you to the whole team, because I can well imagine that it is not always easy to work with me. But I rewarded them for their hard work with a strong result today. In the next few weeks, I will focus on the recovery of my body, because I still feel pain in my shoulder and elbow. In Jerez I want to be 100 percent fit, physically and mentally. I cannot wait to race there. Finally, I want to thank all the sponsors and fans who came here, and I also congratulate all the Yamaha guys who did a great job this weekend."

#PORWorldSBK - Superpole Race (10 Laps):
1 Alvaro BAUTISTA / SPA / Aruba.it Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4R / 16´43.715
3 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / +0.142
3 Andrea LOCATELLI / ITA / Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / +4.204
14 #77 Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / +13.053

#PORWorldSBK - Race 2 (20 Laps):
1 Alvaro BAUTISTA / SPA / Aruba.it Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4R / 33´43.228
2 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / +0.126
3 Michael Ruben RINALDI / ITA / Aruba.it Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4R / +10.262
8 #77 Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1 / +10.262

WorldSBK Standing:
1 Alvaro BAUTISTA / SPA / Ducati / 566
2 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / Yamaha / 506
3 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki / 350
11 #77 Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / Yamaha / 138