[roadracingworld.com] - WorldSBK: Bautista Quickest As Pre-Season Testing Ends At Phi

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom tools in the PDF viewer to better see all pages of the results, including the combined results from the two days of testing […]

The post WorldSBK: Bautista Quickest As Pre-Season Testing Ends At Phillip Island appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.



Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom tools in the PDF viewer to better see all pages of the results, including the combined results from the two days of testing and more.

00_WorldSBK_2023_Official_Test_FP4_Results




More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bautista ends the Official Test on top as Day 2 provides a mixed-up WorldSBK order

The final pre-season test concluded with 16 riders covered by less than 1.5s

2022 WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista topped the timesheets on the final day of the Official Test with a 1’30.272s set in the morning session.



Andrea Locatelli (55) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Andrea Locatelli was second at the end of Day 2 just 0.072s off Bautista’s fastest time.



Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s best time of 1’30.501s gave him third place in Tuesday’s combined results as he finished 0.229s behind teammate Bautista.



Jonathan Rea (65) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea concluded Day 2 in fourth place despite a crash at Turn 4, whilst 2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu was sixth with a best time of 1’30.757s.



Dominique Aegerter (77). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Dominique Aegerter was the fastest Rookie in fifth place while his teammate, whilst home hero Remy Gardner was ninth with a 1’31.073s.



Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.

WorldSBK Day 2 Report

Pre-season is all done and dusted for the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as the final day of testing concluded at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia. The Official Test came to an end and ahead of the first round of the season – the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round – and it was Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who topped the times with a 1’30.272s in FP1 and he was focused on working for the weekend and with set-up high on his agenda, Bautista was in a class of his own.

It was another positive day for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), as he was second in the morning session, having topped the corresponding session on Day 1. Running inside the top two for the majority of FP2 on day two, Locatelli continued working like he did on day one and was doing short race simulations throughout both two-hour sessions, finishing as the top Yamaha rider.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi took third place, with the 27-year-old Italian making strides once more and sporadically topping the timesheets throughout the day. After missing “some tenths” on day one, Rinaldi set his fastest time of the test in FP1, comfortably under the 2022 pole time.

Following a day of mixed feelings on day one, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was once again top Kawasaki rider taking fourth overall with his FP1 time being his best. He had a focus on making the bike manageable, with sector three being a weak point, whilst he also had late-race tyre life to continue working on too. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) had a relatively quiet day as he continued his search for improved rear grip, despite a good final run on the opening day. With race simulation being the call of the day, Razgatlioglu was fifth in FP1 but languished in tenth at the end of FP2, placing him sixth overall and third Yamaha.

WorldSBK Day 2 Results

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’30.272s

2. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) + 0.072s

3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.229s

4. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.444s

5. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.467s

6. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.485s



Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Bulega remains fastest on the final day of the Official Test

Nicolo Bulega was fastest on the final day of the Official Test with a fastest time of 1.32.781s. He was the only rider within the ‘32s.

Stefano Manzi took second place on the combined results with a 1’33.227s finishing 0.446s off Bulega, while Can Oncu concluded day two in third.

WorldSSP Day 2 Report

The final session of pre-season testing is in the books for the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship grid, and making it four out of four in terms of topping sessions, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) goes into the first weekend of the year with a target on his back. Setting the fastest time of the week so far in the WorldSSP class, the #11 Ducati rider was under the existing race lap record as he readies to lay down the gauntlet against a fierce opposition. Today was the day where he looked comfortably faster than anyone else, with nearly half a second advantage over his nearest rival.

The Italian rider set over 60 laps on his way to top spot, fending off fellow countryman Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) and Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Manzi was 0.446s behind Bulega but was the only Yamaha rider inside the top eight positions, whilst Turkish star Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) consolidated his top three status.

Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) took fourth place despite a crash earlier in the day but was OK. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was next up in fifth but like Manzi and Oncu ahead of him, he relied on his FP1 time. Sixth place was another Ducati and another Italian in Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), who improved his time by three tenths of a second from FP1 to FP2 on day two.

Flying the Australian flag in the class, Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) was a solid seventh on the combined times and was consistent with his lap times across the sessions.

Read the full report from Day 2*on*worldsbk.com

WorldSSP Day 2 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it*Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’32.781s

2. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.446s

3. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.625s

4. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) +0.724s

5. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +1.021s

6. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +1.155s



00_WorldSSP_2023_Official_Test_FP4_Results
The post WorldSBK: Bautista Quickest As Pre-Season Testing Ends At Phillip Island appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.