WSBK - Jerez test

[wull]

Razgatlioglu pips 2022 Champion Bautista by just 0.058s on first morning of Jerez test, Petrucci fourth.














The last two WorldSBK Champions were fastest after the first four hours on Day 1 of testing in southern Spain
Testing in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in 2023 got underway at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Wednesday as 2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) edged out reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista by under a tenth of a second at 14:00 Local Time (GMT+1), the halfway point of the day’s running. Track action was limited in the first 90 minutes of the day with cold weather meaning riders kept to the box.

Razgatlioglu’s fastest time was 1’39.587s from the morning session as he topped the times by just 0.058s ahead of Bautista. Bautista, using both the 2022 and 2023 bikes during the session, posted a 1’39.645s for second as he completed the most laps of anyone in WorldSBK. He was ahead of teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi in third place, while rookie Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was fourth after his first run in WorldSBK; Petrucci starting with the 2022 bike. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) rounded out the top five with a 1’40.350s, seventh tenths down on Razgatlioglu’s time, before being overhauled by Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) at the halfway stage.

Petrucci was the highest-placed rookie in fourth spot, lapping just over half-a-second slower than Razgatlioglu. GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK pairing Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner were 11th and 14th respectively, while Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) was 16th on his, and the team’s, first outing in WorldSBK. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was 12th for his new team as he ran in dry conditions for the first time on the M 1000 RR.

In WorldSSP, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba WorldSSP Racing Team) was top in WorldSSP at the halfway stage of the session, posting a 1’43.234s to go faster than Kawasaki duo Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki). Oncu, who has four bikes to test throughout the two days, posted a 1’43.797s to take second while Huertas lapped only two tenths slower than the Turkish star. Rookie Andrea Mantovani (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) was fourth fastest in class as he adjusts to new surroundings.

[wull]

[mangocrazy]

I reckon that Danilo is going to put a few established WSBK noses out of joint...

[wull]

CONCLUSION TO DAY 1 TESTING @ JEREZ

Razgatlioglu fastest, Petrucci shines, Bautista crashes on dramatic Day 1 of Jerez test










There was drama everywhere you looked on Wednesday at Jerez as WorldSBK burst into action in 2023
Day 1 during testing for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto was a dramatic affair as teams and riders got their first 2023 running under their belt. 2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) topped the times ahead of reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) by two tenths of a second, with Bautista crashing in the afternoon, while rookie Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) shone brightly on his WorldSBK debut.


Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) led the way during Day 1 as he posted a 1’38.597s and completed 60 laps. The 2021 Champion, running his traditional #54 plate, was focusing on the rear of his Yamaha YZF R1 machine to improve grip and acceleration while he also had a new swingarm on the 2023 machine. Andrea Locatelli, entering his third season with the team, had the same focus as his teammate as he looks to start 2023 strongly. Locatelli was 12th in the classification with a best time of 1’40.227s, after 79 laps.


Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a crash at Turn 1 in the afternoon session while running his 2023 bike branded with the #1. He was able to ride his Panigale V4 R back to the pits following the crash. Bautista completed 88 laps, as he was one of the first riders to hit the track, with a best time of 1’38.851s. Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who was focusing on getting a good feeling with his bike, was almost four tenths down on his teammate but only a place behind after Rinaldi completed 72 laps; both riders had the 2022 and 2023 bikes available.


Six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) started his test in the afternoon, opting to not go out on track in the colder conditions in the morning, but immediately showed his pace. He took fourth place overall, completing 42 laps, with a best time of 1’39.302s. Teammate Lowes, who had some performance, chassis and suspension components including a modified rear shock to try, was three tenths and one place behind Rea with 37 laps to his name. Kawasaki also introduced a new system on their ZX-10RR which will prevent riders hitting a false neutral, something which occurred on a couple of occasions throughout 2022.
Team HRC duo Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona had a new fairing to test on Day 1 at Jerez as they embark on their second season with the factory Honda outfit. In view of several engineers from Japan, the pair took seventh and eighth respectively. Honda, testing new components including new brake callipers from supplier Nissin on their CBR1000RR-R, had times of 1’39.879s from Vierge with Lecuona only 0.004s behind.


At the BMW box, both Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and teammate Michael van der Mark adjusted to new brakes after the German manufacturer switched to Nissin from Brembo. Van der Mark’s plan was to complete as many laps as possible on his first day riding the back since the Australian Round, which he did with 65 laps, while Redding completed 67. Redding was the faster of the two riders as he posted a 1’39.998s, while van der Mark was seven tenths slower.

Three rookies were taking part in the Jerez test as they got adjusted to new surroundings, teams and bikes. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was fifth in the standings as he worked on the 2022 bike on Day 1. Petrucci took sixth spot at the end of the day with a 1’39.790s, just over a second slower than Razgatlioglu. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) was ninth fastest on his first day in dry conditions with the Yamaha R1, lapping in 1’39.934, as he worked on linkage, swingarm and electronic components, with teammate Remy Gardner close behind in 14th place and six tenths back from Aegerter. Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha), learning the Championship and bike along with his team, was the lowest-placed rookie with 19th place as he took to the Yamaha R1 for the first time. He completed 67 laps during Day 1.

German rider Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was 13th on the first day of the test as he used the 2022 Panigale V4 R, possibly using the 2023 bike tomorrow, as he goes in search of his first WorldSBK podium in 2023. He posted a best time of 1’40.234s after completing 67 laps on Wednesday at Jerez. With the 2023 BMW M 1000 RR at his disposal, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) finished the day in 11th place with a best time of 1’40.065s and completing 54 laps. Gerloff was ahead of both teammate Loris Baz and factory team rider van der Mark in the classification, with Baz taking 17th place after completing 60 laps. The returning Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was in 16th place at the end of the day, although he wasn’t testing anything new compared to the December test. Sykes also had a small mechanical issue with around 90 minutes remaining in the session as he went to leave the pits but was able to head out on track, with the same bike, around 10 minutes later.
Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 18th in the WorldSBK field as he starts his second campaign with the Independent Kawasaki squad. Konig was able to test some brake updates on his ZX-10RR but the main goal for him was for his new team around him to adjust; the team have brought in some Czech team member that Konig knows while there has also been a change of crew chief.


In WorldSSP, it was Ducati who came out on top on Day 1 as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba WorldSSP Racing Team) topped the times in a three-way battle. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who has four bikes to test at Jerez including the 2022 bike and the 2023 specification, was second while Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) was third. Rookie Andrea Mantovani (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) took fourth place, ahead of Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) and WorldSSP rookie John McPhee (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing). Yuta Okaya (Prodina Kawasaki Racing WorldSSP) and Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) were also at the test, although neither were recording lap times during the test.

[wull]

[weeksy]

Top man. Thanks for the racing stuff

[mangocrazy]

So BMW have switched from Brembo to Nissin. I presume money has changed hands to facilitate this?

[wull]

So BMW have switched from Brembo to Nissin. I presume money has changed hands to facilitate this?

They were Nissin last year as well, can’t remember what they were the year prior to that.

As for the road bike they came away from Brembo for the 2019 K67 model and have been their own since, Hayes initially and possibly since. The brakes are phenomenal.

Just checked, Nissin for 2021 as well, they’ve probably been Nissin since the K67

[mangocrazy]

So BMW have switched from Brembo to Nissin. I presume money has changed hands to facilitate this?

They were Nissin last year as well, can’t remember what they were the year prior to that.

As for the road bike they came away from Brembo for the 2019 K67 model and have been their own since, Hayes initially and possibly since. The brakes are phenomenal.

OK, didn't know that. Modern brakes are phenomenal, full stop. I've not used modern Nissins, but the Duke 690R has a single Brembo M50 caliper up front and the power and feel are bonkers. I can't begin to imagine what having 2 of them would be like. I'm sure Nissin's equivalent are equally gob-smacking.

[wull]

Razgatlioglu fastest but crashes on second morning of Jerez test











2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu was fastest at the halfway point of the second day of testing despite a crash at the final corner early in his running

The final day of testing at the Circuit de Jerez – Angel Nieto for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was another dramatic session. Just 0.028s covered the top two at 14:00 Local Time (GMT+1), the halfway point of the test. Razgatlioglu was the fastest rider on track as he set a 1’39.010s, down on his fastest time from Day 1, but the 2021 Champion also caused a small delay to proceedings when he crashed at the final corner.

Razgatlioglu was barely into his day’s action when he crashed at Turn 13 at the Jerez circuit, sending him into the gravel with his bike heavily damaged. He was able to return to the track on his second bike not long after as he set the fastest time in the morning by just 0.028s. Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was second fastest and completed the most laps of those in the top five, while Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was third; 0.263s back from Razgatlioglu’s time. Italian duo Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) rounded out the top five.

Once again, rookies were showing their potential on Day 2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) continued his quick adaptation to WorldSBK as he lapped in 1’39.704s on his Panigale V4 R. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) moved up the order to ninth with a 1’40.109s, while teammate Dominique Aegerter was 13th fastest and around three tenths down on his teammate. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was 16th fastest after he had a small crash at Turn 6 after he lost the front of his M 1000 RR machine.


In WorldSSP, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba WorldSSP Racing Team) was the fastest rider after setting a 1’41.685s on his Panigale V2, lapping around seven tenths quicker than Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) rounded out the top three in WorldSSP with a 1’42.662s, around three tenths behind Oncu and a second down on Bulega.

[Skub]

Alvaro up there on a tight track like Jerez is an ominous sign for the others.

[wull]

30 mins ago Alvaro bettered Toprak’s time from yesterday by 0.047s

[Skub]

[wull]

Toprak back on top with an hour to go. Note Alvaro’s top speed but also JR’s, 260 for Toprak versus 271 and 265 respectively.

[Skub]

The difference between Bautista's top whack and his heavier team mate tells a story too.

[wull]

[wull]

Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu secured the standings once again at Jerez as WorldSBK testing completed its second day.

As expected, Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea and Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista joined him in the top three, less than two tenths shy of the Turkish rider’s 1:38.269 best, with the pair’s teammates Michael Rinaldi and Alex Lowes locking out the fastest five.

Cool morning temperatures saw a delay to proceedings as day two at Jerez eventually fired up an hour later than planned on Thursday. Bautista was the man to beat in the early stages - on the bubble of 1’39 pace - with Razgatlioglu and Rea neatly behind, while teammate Rinaldi headed fellow Ducati man Danilo Petrucci in the top five.

Razgatlioglu recovered from an early and heavy turn 13 crash to better Bautista by just 0.028s on his second R1 as the morning developed. The 2022 Champion back in charge overall on his 50th lap of the day, a 1’38.540 setting the benchmark for the afternoon runs.

The second half of the top ten was filled with improvers as Pata Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli made his way to fifth, half a second adrift of his teammate’s current best, with Petrucci, KRT’s Lowes, Bonovo BMW’s Loris Baz, GRT’s Remy Gardner and Honda’s Iker Lecuona all narrowly behind with two hours to go.

As the clock clicked down the 2021 champ had returned to command with a 1’38.269 effort, Rea just 0.083s adrift with Bautista completing the top three, less than two tenths back. Rinaldi maintained his best of the rest position in fourth as the final rider under the 1’39 barrier on the second day with Lowes leading a Yamaha pairing of Locatelli and Dominique Aegerter from fifth. Petrucci, Lecuona and Gardner completed the top ten, with the rookie 1.2s off the outright pace after 162 laps of the Andalusian track.

Aruba Ducati’s Niccolo Bulega was the fastest WorldSSP rider - on 1’41.685 pace - for the second day in a row, the Italian fending off close competition Puccetti Kawasaki’s Can Öncü and Althea’s Federico Caricasulo with John McPhee continuing to get to grips with his Vince64 Kawasaki from sixth.

1 54 WSBK Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU 61 1:38.269 — ——- 38 250,2
2 65 WSBK Jonathan REA 56 1:38.352 0.083 0.083 53 263,9
3 1 WSBK Alvaro BAUTISTA 86 1:38.449 0.180 0.097 65 267,3
4 21 WSBK Michael Ruben RINALDI 67 1:38.646 0.377 0.197 67 255,3
5 22 WSBK Alex LOWES 77 1:39.175 0.906 0.529 75 -
6 77 WSBK Dominique AEGERTER 71 1:39.193 0.924 0.018 70 262,6
7 55 WSBK Andrea LOCATELLI 69 1:39.280 1.011 0.087 51 247,3
8 9 WSBK Danilo PETRUCCI 54 1:39.311 1.042 0.031 52 255,9
9 7 WSBK Iker LECUONA 68 1:39.337 1.068 0.026 58 266,9
10 87 WSBK Remy GARDNER 76 1:39.464 1.195 0.127 70 221,2
11 76 WSBK Loris BAZ 61 1:39.517 1.248 0.053 61 244,8
12 45 WSBK Scott REDDING 67 1:39.710 1.441 0.193 62 -
13 97 WSBK Xavi VIERGE 79 1:39.860 1.591 0.150 77 238,3
14 5 WSBK Philipp OETTL 75 1:40.023 1.754 0.163 70 253,3
15 31 WSBK Garrett GERLOFF 47 1:40.101 1.832 0.078 41 258,2
16 60 WSBK Michael VD MARK 77 1:40.221 1.952 0.120 74 71,5
17 66 WSBK Tom SYKES 36 1:40.750 2.481 0.529 33 258,7
18 34 WSBK Lorenzo BALDASSARRI 65 1:40.975 2.706 0.225 29 253,5
19 121 WSBK Florian MARINO 52 1:41.553 3.284 0.578 38 258,5
20 52 WSBK Oliver KÖNIG 62 1:41.595 3.326 0.042 18 254,1
21 11 WSSP Niccolo BULEGA 69 1:41.685 3.416 0.090 24 234,9
22 61 WSSP Can ONCU 72 1:41.858 3.589 0.173 46 218,2
23 64 WSSP Federico CARICASULO 68 1:42.012 3.743 0.154 58 235,6
24 40 SBK Roman RAMOS 54 1:42.087 3.818 0.075 41 252,7
25 99 WSSP Adrian HUERTAS 39 1:42.923 4.654 0.836 12 131,6
26 122 STK Sam LOWES 59 1:43.062 4.793 0.139 49 235,3
27 19 WSSP Andrea MANTOVANI 88 1:43.149 4.880 0.087 27 215,3
28 27 WSSP John MCPHEE 65 1:43.665 5.396 0.516 62 231,5
29 131 Roberto GARCIA 27 1:44.574 6.305 0.909 14 250,7
30 16 WSSP Yuta OKAYA 13 1:46.225 7.956 1.651 5 224,2
31 44 David MUÑOZ 34 1:47.138 8.869 0.913 6 248,8
32 222 Ana CARRASCO 42 1:48.906 10.637 1.768 42 213,5

[Skub]

Another season of the same three racing for the title and then the best of the rest,with maybe a few upsets some rounds?

Well then,I'll take that.

[wull]

You’ll see about 472,000 more overtakes than what you’ll get in MotoGP that’s for sure.

[KungFooBob]

You’ll see about 472,000 more overtakes than what you’ll get in MotoGP that’s for sure.

...and that's just the first lap.