REPORT: Razgatlioglu OBLITERATES lap record pace again with Rea P2, Bautista fourth after THREE crashes

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) +0-876sRain affects the second day of WorldSBK testing in Misano. Bulega and Bautista second and fourth respectively in the combined standings. WorldSSP: Huertas (P1) finds feeling right away.
The World Misano Circuit Marco Simoncelli hosted two days of testing, with almost all WorldSBK teams taking to the track.

After a first day of action characterized by steady sunshine, rain interrupted this morning's session several times and then fell heavily during the lunch break.
When the circuit returned to dry in the afternoon, Nicolò Bulega (P2 in the combined test standings) and Alvaro Bautista (P4) were able to return to the track to complete work on their respective Ducati Panigale V4R but without improving on Day 1.

Day 1 - Combined Standings
P1 T. Razgatlioglu (BMW) 1'32.663
P2 N. Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1'32.731
P3 A. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1'33.151
P4 J. Rea (Yamaha) 1'33.206
P5 S. Lowes (Ducati) 1'33.346

Day 2 - Combined Standings
P1 T. Razgatlioglu (BMW) 1'32.535
P2 J. Rea (Yamaha) 1'33.113
P3 N. Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1'33.133
P4 A. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1'33.175
P5 A. Locatelli (Yamaha) 1'33.319

Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati #11).
“The first day was positive because compared to the Cremona test we were able to find a good feeling right away. I still don't feel 100% and that means we still have to work. Unfortunately, today we were not able to continue our work with continuity but there remains great confidence ahead of what for me represents a real Home GP.”

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati #1)
“I am quite satisfied with what we did on the first day of testing. We tried some electronics solutions focusing on engine delivery. Up to this point we had dedicated ourselves almost exclusively to the set up and having had the opportunity to work on this aspect was important not only ahead of the Misano round but also for the rest of the season.”

WorldSSP
Positive feelings for Adrian Huertas, who rode the Ducati Panigale V2 at the Misano circuit for the first time in his career and immediately found a good feeling. The Spanish rider ended the two-day event in first place with a time of 1'37.028.

Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #99)
“Day 1 was very positive also because I had not raced on this circuit for a long time. Unfortunately, we could not continue to work particularly hard today. However, I am still satisfied and thank the team for putting me in a position to immediately find a good feeling with my bike.”
Misano test
WorldSBK 2024
Team HRC goes all out during important testing at Misano

A week on from a test sessions at new WorldSBK circuit in Cremona (Italy), Team HRC has completed further testing this week, taking to the Misano World Circuit on Thursday 30 and Friday 31 May as it continues preparations ahead of the fourth world championship round, scheduled to take place at the same Italian track on June 14-16.

Factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge made the most of dry conditions on Thursday, working on the setup of their CBR1000RR-R machines together with their technicians. Keen to collate as much data as possible, the two riders worked tirelessly throughout the day. The pair were back out, along with most of the WorldSBK field, on Friday, when they continued with the essential preparation work, which included the testing of a new exhaust with a view to improving power delivery.

Despite rain showers on day two, which interrupted the action for long periods in the early afternoon, the team completed most of its scheduled work. The focus was largely on general bike and electronics setup testing, laying important foundations ahead of the next races.

Team HRC will be back in action in two weeks’ time, when round four of the Superbike World Championship will be staged at the Misano Circuit.


Iker Lecuona 7

"We have worked very hard on the base setup and have also tried many things on the electronics. I have to be honest, we improved a little, but not yet enough. We are still a bit behind compared to other riders and are still struggling with turning and in terms of drive. That said, it was not a bad test. We collected a lot of data and new information on the bike in light of the changes we made over the last couple of days, and in Cremona too. Unfortunately, I was unable to fully exploit our time in the rain this afternoon due to a small electronics issue. It’s a pity, as it would have been useful after my crash at Assen. But overall, it’s been an interesting test. In two weeks, we will be back here racing at Misano, so the team and Japan have all the data. Now, it’s over to them to analyze all this data and continue the work”.




Xavi Vierge 97

"Two more days of important testing here at Misano. We tried many different things and although it's clear that we’re not yet achieving the kind of performances we’re aiming for, everyone is making a huge effort. Now it will be crucial to analyze all the data collected both here and at Cremona. It was a pity about the mixed conditions today, as yesterday we focused on one part of the job, while today we had planned to do something else. But all in all, we were able to complete a lot of work. The last hour and a half were the most productive. Over the next couple of weeks, the team will try to prepare the best possible setup, and then over the race weekend, we will focus on achieving maximum performance."Rea Second Fastest on Day 2 as Pata Prometeon Yamaha sign off from Misano Test


Pata Prometeon Yamaha completed it’s 2024 test programme after two days at Misano World Circuit today, as Jonathan Rea hit the top of the lap times before finishing second overall on Day 2 in Italy today – while teammate Andrea Locatelli continually achieved the same positive work rate he has throughout this FIM Superbike World Championship season.

Inclement weather forecasts made juggling Rea’s last 1.5 remaining regulation test days tricky, but 73 productive laps on the first day helped the Ulsterman feel more and more “at home” on his Yamaha R1 WorldSBK. Despite a tricky Friday, with drizzle, an early lunch break and a deluge in the early afternoon, Rea and the #65 Pata Prometeon Yamaha crew made best use of the remaining half day to tick off a few more items on the “to do list” and finish the day strongly with a Superpole qualifying simulation that catapulted him to the top of the timesheets an hour before the end of the test.

With two days available, Locatelli was able to run as much as the weather allowed across two days on the Adriatic Coast and continue to build his confidence and R1 WorldSBK package ahead of his “home round” in ten days’ time. A small crash during his best qualifying simulation was the only thing that stopped him joining Rea at the top of the classification this afternoon when the track was at its best between rain showers. Locatelli netted 111 laps in total and fifth overall on Day 2, while Rea completed 98 laps.

Jonathan Rea – 1'33.113

“I enjoyed the R1 this test, we arrived with some different set-up ideas than my “base bike” over the first races and I was able to ride in a more familiar style, just trying to get the Yamaha R1 to compliment me and for me to adapt subtly to the bike. With testing days restricted, we had to make the best use of track time and we had a great Day 1 – I was able to complete a lot of laps with no issues, I felt quite competitive with my pace both on race tyres and also the soft tyre. Then, Day 2 was a little bit more complicated because the weather came in really early – and I was only able to utilise half a day, so we had to be very clever timing-wise. I was able to tick some boxes still and get more familiar with the bike and start fine-tuning towards the race weekend. Still lots of work to do, but I am happy to start the Misano race weekend soon and excited for the prospects, but we still need to look at our race pace on Friday. It’s been nice to feel good on the bike and especially on the soft tyre, I was really able to get the R1 around fast. It felt like a real Superpole session at the end, everyone was going full gas with SCQ tyres and we managed to finish right there in the front row positions. It is possibly the best I have felt with the Yamaha R1 and my team, but there’s still a lot of margin to find so I have a positive outlook.”


Andrea Locatelli – 1'33.319

“In general, it was two positive days of testing, because we improved some important points, also the lap times with the SC0 tyre this morning and the SCX during the day were very good. With the qualifying tyre we found a good solution to have a good feeling and a good lap time, even if I had a small crash at Turn 14 on my best lap. We know it is really important to start the race near the front, but on the rhythm for the race simulation we are not in a bad position. I think we increased the performance, we improved a lot in respect to last year and the confidence is quite high. I feel positive, so I think we can enjoy the race weekend – the confidence after Cremona test and this test is good. Just some days to reset and rest a little bit, and to check the data, prepare for the race weekend – and then we go again on track and we are pushing at the maximum.”


Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Prometeon Yamaha:

“It’s been a good test, despite Jonathan being restricted to a day and a half of running under the regulations and some thunderstorms and wet weather on top. The team got through a huge amount of work and have made some genuine progress both in terms of consistency and outright performance. JR has had bad luck heaped on top of misfortune since the start of our racing journey together, so to have a solid two days, make clear progress and build confidence – resulting in P4 yesterday and P2 today – is a great step and a result that allows us to bring a very positive approach to the Misano race. Loka has been “on it” all season and this test was no different, only a little tip off on his best qualifying lap cost him the chance to “compete” for the top three positions today. Of course, there’s always more performance we can find and always more confidence we can instil in the riders, but our time here in Misano has been well spent!”

Pos.	Rider	Team	Bike	Time
1	Toprak Razgatlioglu	ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK	BMW M 1000 RR	1:32.535
2	Jonathan Rea	PATA Prometeon Yamaha	Yamaha YZF R1	1:33.113
3	Nicolo Bulega	Aruba.It Racing - Ducati	Ducati Panigale V4R	1:33.133
4	Alvaro Bautista	Aruba.It Racing - Ducati	Ducati Panigale V4R	1:33.175
5	Andrea Locatelli	PATA Prometeon Yamaha	Yamaha YZF R1	1:33.319
6	Remy Gardner	GRT Yamaha WorldSBK	Yamaha YZF R1 GYTR	1:33.411
7	Alex Lowes	Kawasaki Racing WorldSBK	Kawasaki ZX-10RR	1:33.458
8	Dominique Aegerter	GRT Yamaha WorldSBK	Yamaha YZF R1 GYTR	1:33.715
9	Michael van der Mark	ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK	BMW M 1000 RR	1:33.816
10	Iker Lecuona	HRC	Honda CBR1000 RR-R	1:33.866

Kawasaki

Positive Misano Test For KRT



Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani shared track time with almost all of their 2024 rivals during a two day test at the Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’ between 30-31 May. Both KRT riders ended their tests in a positive frame of mind after finding improvements in key areas of machine set-up.



There had been a long break in the race calendar before the Misano test which made these two days of track action particularly valuable - even as a simple opportunity for all riders and staff to mesh together again in their working environment.



Despite occasional threats of early summer rains the weather stayed fine throughout day one at Misano, allowing both sides of the KRT garage to get through a lot of work and find improvements in their set-up for the forthcoming Misano race weekend.



The forecasted wet weather conditions stayed at bay until late morning on the second day, when occasional light rains brought about a mandatory early break for lunch at 12.00, not 13.00 as planned. Heavy rains in the early afternoon, and then some short periods of very light rain for some time after that, compromised the plans of many riders and teams.



Lowes mainly concentrated on electronics and chassis options at this test. His best lap time of 1’33.458 was set on day two, and placed him eighth overall, despite not getting a clear chance to make a single fast lap at full pace on a Q tyre.



Bassani’s best lap time of 1’33.929 saw him 15th on the combined timesheets over the two days of testing, with his main advances coming in terms of front end confidence on both race tyres and Q tyres.



After the testing work is now complete the next track outing will be at round four of the championship, which will take place at Misano between 14-16 June.



Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team Rider): “The second day was good even through in the morning it started to rain and we got a bit unlucky. We tried quite a big change on the bike, on the chassis, but then it rained. And then this afternoon it started to spit with rain every time we tried to go out. When the track was dry enough, with about an hour and half to go until the end, we tried the different chassis set-up. We were happy with that. We did two runs on that set-up and then returned to the base bike, with some back-to-back testing on that and more work on the electronics. It was quite good, honestly. The first time I tried the Q tyre was today, with this new chassis set-up, and I was able to do a 1’33.4 lap time, so I was quite happy with that. We are improving all the time.”



Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team Rider): “There was some difficult weather today so it was not easy to try to find a good time to go out on track. But, for sure we found something to make things feel better on the bike, especially with the front. We changed a lot of things and the feeling on the front, with a Q tyre on the rear, was nicer than before. I am happy about that. Step-by-step we are trying to arrive closer to the front and for sure with a race tyre option I was nearer to my team-mate Alex. I am happy with the work we did with the team and now we have to work a lot during race weekend because I want to have good races here in Misano.”



Pere Riba (Crew Chief for Alex Lowes): “The final day was busy because the day was short. Even with the period of rain we still did as much as we could. The target was to try electronic things, mainly, to understand more for the race weekend at Misano and future races. We collected very good information and it seems like we made a step. The direction of where we want to go is clearer. For the rest, we tried some different items for the chassis and again prepared for race weekend. We tried a couple of Q tyres but we did not focus 100% with that. It was more with the SCX tyre, which is the race tyre. I am proud of him because he did a very, very good job.”



Marcel Duinker (Crew Chief for Axel Bassani): “We had two main areas where we wanted to improve in this test. One area we worked on yesterday with a very positive result and another one we did on the final day. The rain removed a couple of hours of our track time on the final day, but I can only be very satisfied with the results of our tests. On race tyres Axel was really fast and really happy with the bike. After the first three rounds of the season we understood very well where we really needed to improve. One was in the Superpole performance, because in the first three rounds we were not extracting the correct performance from the Q tyre. In the last hour many people used a Q tyre but we had just a little crash because the exhaust grounded on a rumple strip during cornering. Because of this we still had a couple of items to try to improve the performance on the Q tyre, but it was not possible as we just had 15 minutes left. Overall, I am a very happy man after this test.”