With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship hitting Misano for a two-day test, it was Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who left Italy as the fastest rider. Despite rain around lunchtime disrupting the day, the #54 was able to put in a lap time that was even faster than yesterday’s unbelievable effort as he finished ahead of Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in second. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) missed out on a place in the top three but more cause for concern would be his three Friday crashes.
RAZGATLIOGLU LEADS THE WAY: P1 again for ‘El Turco’
Turkish superstar Razgatlioglu set a 1’32.918s to claim first place on Day 2, backing up his P1 from Thursday with another strong day after topping the times in the initial dry running and again as the test concluded. After posting the aforementioned time, the 2021 Champion jumped on his second bike and set a 1’32.535s, a tenth faster than yesterday’s time. The #54 worked on setup and electronics, as well as aiming to prepare for the Emilia-Romagna Round in a few weeks. Teammate van der Mark claimed ninth spot with the Dutchman praising BMW’s new seat he first tried on Thursday. His best time was 1’33.715s, more than a second off his teammate’s barely believable time.
REA SURGES TO SECOND: using the final hour to full potential
Rea had been hovering outside the top ten until the final hour of testing, when he surged up the order with a 1’33.113s to provisionally claim top spot, although finished the day in P2. It came after what Team Principal Paul Denning described as his “best day of testing” with Yamaha on Thursday, with the #65 testing a new chassis balance, weight distribution and rider position at Misano. It was also a decent outing for teammate Andrea Locatelli who finished the day in fifth, just two tenths away from Rea as the Japanese manufacturer showed their potential.
Elsewhere within the Iwata-based brand’s camp, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was also inside the top ten as his rich vein of form continued with sixth place after he set a 1’33.639s. Next door, teammate Dominique Aegerter was able to move into the top ten with eighth to end the test on a high note. Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) rounded out the Yamaha field as he claimed 18th place after bouncing back from his crash yesterday.
HIGHS AND LOWS: Bulega third, Bautista fourth with three Friday spills
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the lead Ducati rider on Friday as he finished in third, overhauling teammate Alvaro Bautista in the final stages by posting a 1’33.133s. All eyes were on Bautista’s box though, with the reigning Champion claiming fourth with a 1’33.175s. However, it was a disrupted day for the #1 with THREE crashes – at Turns 8, 14 and 16 – bringing his total for the test to four. Michele Pirro was also on track with the team and the Italian claimed a highly-respectable 12th place with a 1’33.876s.
Independent Ducati rider Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) secured P14 despite feeling under the weather, with the Brit focusing on rider position and ergonomic improvements and dropping down the order in the afternoon. The #14’s best time was a 1’33’949s, and he was closely followed by Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). ‘Petrux’ revealed yesterday he still had some shoulder pain as he made his return from injury but a 1’33.963s meant he secured a top-five spot on Friday. The other Independent Ducati rider on track was Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) who finished in P16.
LOWES SEVENTH, RABAT IMPRESSES: a good day in green
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished seventh despite briefly topping the times as the afternoon progressed, setting a 1’33.458s while teammate Axel Bassani was 13th. Lowes was continuing to work on the new electronics settings that teammate ‘El Bocia’ is already using, with the Brit explaining after Thursday’s action that he was happy with them but needed to work on finer details. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was one of the standout names on Friday after running second in the early stages, with the Spaniard posting a 1’33.856s and lapping only a tenth away from the fastest time. The #53 used the SCQ tyre for that time, ensuring he could use the softest tyre in dry conditions, but fell to tenth as riders went out later on during the day.
HONDA’S WORK CONTINUES: Lecuona moves into 11th, Vierge 17th
Japanese manufacturer Honda came into the Misano test full of confidence after a strong outing at Cremona and they had more upgrades to try in Italy in the shape of new exhaust pipes as well as continuing to evaluate a new swingarm option. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was the fastest Honda rider as he set a 1’33.866s to secure 11th place, while teammate Xavi Vierge was further back in 17th after the #97 posted a 1’34.419s. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was just behind the factory team’s efforts as he claimed 19th, while Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) rounded out the WorldSBK field.
HUERTAS ON TOP IN WORLD SUPERSPORT: two tenths between him and Manzi
In WorldSSP, it was Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) who claimed top spot after posting a 1’37.028s in the afternoon, lapping under race lap record pace although still some way off the all-time record time. Stefano Manzi (Pata Prometeon Ten Kate Racing) had been top throughout the majority of Friday but Huertas’ was able to overhaul him in the closing stages, with Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in third. His teammate, Marcel Schroetter, crashed in the afternoon which briefly brought out the red flags.
The top six from Friday at Misano, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’32.535s
2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.578s
3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.598s
4. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.640s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.784s
6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0-876s
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