Current WorldSBK Race Lap Record: 1:49.620, J. Rea (Kaw), 2020
Current WorldSBK All-Time Lap Record: 1:48.458, J. Rea (Kaw), 2021
FIM Superbike World Championship
MotorLand Aragon
Alcaniz, Spain
April 4, 2022
Provisional Day One Best Lap Times (all on Pirelli tires):
- Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw), 1:49.394
- Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Yam), 1:49.628
- Alvaro Bautista, Spain (Duc), 1:50.025
- Garrett Gerloff, USA (Yam), 1:50.120
- Alex Lowes, UK (Kaw), 1:50.423
- Loris Baz, France (BMW), 1:50.446
- Kohta Nozane, Japan (Yam), 1:50.520
- Iker Lecuona, Spain (Hon), 1:50.586
- Eugene Laverty, UK (BMW), 1:50.600
- Andrea Locatelli, Italy (Yam), 1:50.612
- Philipp Oettl, Germany (Duc), 1:50.713
- Scott Redding, UK (BMW), 1:50.734
- Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Italy (Duc), 1:50.829
- Lucas Mahias, France (Kaw), 1:51.151
- Ilya Mikhalchik, Ukraine (BMW), 1:51.438
- Xavi Vierge, Spain (Hon), 1:51.446
- Roberto Tamburini, Italy (Yam), 1:51.737
- Axel Bassani, Italy (Duc), 1:51.890
- Christophe Ponsson, Belgium (Yam), 1:52.785
- Luca Bernardi, San Marino (Duc), 1:52.937
- Leandro Mercado, Argentina (Hon), 1:53.100
- Oliver Konig, Czech Republic (Kaw), 1:53.421
- Hafizh Syahrin, Malaysia (Hon), 1:53.945
- Loris Cresson, Belgium (Kaw), 1:54.691
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Rea under race lap record pace on Day 1 at Aragon as he tops the WorldSBK timesheets
The six-time World Champion topped the times by just 0.016s ahead of nearest rival Toprak Razgatlioglu on the opening day of testing at MotorLand Aragon
Despite colder conditions impacting on Day 1 of the Supported Test at MotorLand Aragon, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was able to lap faster than the race lap record for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship venue as he topped the timesheets on Day 1 of testing. The six-time World Champion left it late to go top on Day 1 in the combined classification, beating his nearest rival by just 0.016s.
THREE MANUFACTURERS IN THE TOP THREE
Rea claimed top spot on the opening day of action with a lap late in the third and final session of track action as he posted a 1’49.394s, to go under his own race lap record at MotorLand Aragon by two tenths of a second. Rea, who was hoping to start finetuning his ZX-10RR machine ahead of the Pirelli Aragon Round beat Razgatlioglu’s best time of 1’49.410s, set in FP2, in the final minutes of Day 1.
Like Rea, Razgatlioglu was under the race lap record set the six-time World Champion in last year’s Superpole Race, although the 2021 Champion’s day ended a few minutes early when he suffered a technical issue at Turn 15 in the closing stages of the session. Razgatlioglu used new electronics throughout the test as well as working on the race setup of his Yamaha YZF R1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed third spot despite a crash on his Panigale V4 R machine at Turn 6 in FP3, ending the day six tenths down on Rea’s best time as his focus was on the start of the season in just a few days.
ALL FIVE MANUFACTURERS FEATURE IN A TIGHTLY PACKED TOP TEN
Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) finished the day in fourth place as the American lapped around seven tenths slower than Rea, although Gerloff was fastest in the third sector of the lap. Gerloff’s R1 machine was fitted with the 2022 engine and a new exhaust seen on Razgatlioglu’s bike during testing as he claimed a top four finish on Day 1. Teammate Kohta Nozane ensured but GRT Yamaha riders were inside the top ten with eighth place, just four tenths off Gerloff’s pace on Day 1.
The American rider finished three tenths clear of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as Lowes had a couple of items to try throughout the test, on the suspension and chassis side, although did not want to change the bike too much due to colder conditions than are expected at the Aragon Round.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) claimed sixth spot as he, like teammate Razgatlioglu, did not improve in the final session of the day. His best time was a 1’50.433s, just over a second off Rea’s time but 0.010s away from Lowes. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was the highest-placed BMW rider as he claimed a top seven finish on his M 1000 RR, with teammate Eugene Laverty in tenth. Laverty’s best time was a 1’50.600s as he worked on the rear grip of his machine.
All five manufacturers were inside the top ten as Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) went ninth fastest on his CBR1000RR-R machine, posting a best time of 1’50.586s as he prepares for his rookie WorldSBK campaign. Lecuona’s plan was to do as many laps as possible but cold conditions in the morning and a Turn 7 crash in FP3 meant his running was disrupted, although he was okay following the crash.
TO NOTE…
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was 11th, just 0.032s outside a place inside the top ten on his Panigale V4 R as he looked to test a new swingarm as well as different setup choices. Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed 13th spot for the factory BMW squad, three tenths down on the fastest time record by Baz, the fastest BMW rider.
Last year’s breakthrough star, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) was 18th on the opening day of test with a time of 1’51.890s, over a tenth slower than debutant Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) who received a late call-up to the 2022 Championship. Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) was 19th fastest after he had a Turn 2 crash in FP3, with the Frenchman okay after the incident.
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
The first day of testing at Aragon (Spain) ends with Bautista and Rinaldi in third and eleventh position respectively. Bulega tops WorldSSP
The first of two days of testing at the Motorland circuit in Aragon (Spain) ended with Alvaro Bautista in third place and Michael Rinaldi in 11th.
It was a very peculiar day, characterized by extremely cold temperatures that prevented the riders from being able to take advantage of the first of the three daily sessions.
In the early afternoon, the track conditions improved, and the two Aruba.it Racing – Ducati riders were able to work more effectively with their Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Alvaro Bautista ended with the third fastest time (1’50.025), recorded on SC0 tyres. A crash – without particular consequences – on the last run forced him to postpone the time attack attempt until tomorrow.
After a good fifth place in the second session, Michael Rinaldi – also due to some issues – was unable to make an impact in FP3 closing with the 11th fastest time in the combined standings (1’50.632).
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19)
“We’ve been working a lot on the setup and electronics and we have been able to get some very interesting data. I’m really sorry for the crash on the last run. I went out for the first time with the second bike and, if I’m honest, I don’t know what happened. We will have to check the data to understand it better. Luckily there were no consequences. Anyway, I am confident about the pace we had with the SC0. Tomorrow we’ll also try the softer tires”.
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“I can’t be satisfied with the way things went today. We weren’t able to find continuity on the track and that’s something we’ll talk about with the team to be able to do better tomorrow. Anyway, the feeling with the bike isn’t bad and that gives me confidence. Of course, we will have to work harder to be ready for the first round of the season”.
WorldSSP
After being forced to skip the FP1 due to low temperatures, Nicolò Bulega showed to be at ease on the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP Team. The Italian rider completed 37 laps in the two-afternoon sessions, finishing in first place with the fastest time of 1’53.818.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP Team #11)
“It was a very complicated day because of the weather conditions. Luckily in the afternoon, we were able to work steadily, also because it was my first time on this circuit with the Ducati Panigale V2. We’re still a long way from the fastest times of this category at Aragon, but the feeling with the bike is growing and that’s positive”.
More, from a press release issued by Team Go Eleven:
DAY 1 – ARAGON – SUPPORTED TEST; PHILIPP FINISHES CLOSE TO THE TOP TEN!
Finally the first week of racing has come! WorldSBK toes on track for a two-day Supported Test at Aragon, the same track on which, next weekend, the protagonists will kick off the WorldSBK.
The temperatures certainly did not help teams and riders, since the freezing cold, with temperatures around 0 ° C, forced most of the teams to make a few timed laps. From the second session onwards, the sun showed up at Motorland, warming the track and air, thus giving the riders the opportunity to push. Philipp used race tyres, the harder compound, looking for the right references of lines and brakings, different from those used with the smaller bikes. Right from the start he felt at ease, constantly improving lap times. A two-hour break after FP2 allowed the riders to carry out a quick debrief with the technicians to improve feeling and set-up ahead of the last session of Day 1. The last 45 minutes, FP3, proved to be the faster session for many riders. The asphalt temperatures reached 25 degrees, thus giving greater confidence especially on the front. The German homeowner Go Eleven set excellent times on both hard and soft tyres, dropping below 51. With the best time of 1.50.713 he finished close to the Top ten, 3 tenths from fourth place.
DAY 1 – COMBINED RESULTS:
P 1 J. Rea 1.49.394
P 2 T. Razgatlioglu + 0.016
P 3 A. Bautista + 0.631
P 4 G. Gerloff + 0.726
P 5 A. Lowes + 1.029
…
P 12 P. Oettl + 1.319
There is still a lot of work to do to get ready for the first Friday of the year, but the start is cpositive and Oettl’s feelings are good. In the evening today the Go Eleven technicians will work to fix the corner entrance and the T 2, the two most critical points found during today’s tests.
Philipp Oettl (Rider):
“Today it was a new day on a new track with the Superbike, I am happy by the moment, we made some good steps in the right direction. If we continue like this also tomorrow, I think it would be great. I still have to adapt my riding style to Aragon with the Ducati V4-RS. It’s not easy to learn fast, but we are on the right way, but we need to keep working!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):
“This morning when we woke up it was really very cold, I thought it was a lost day; in reality then in the afternoon the temperature warmed up a bit and we were able to get out on the track in good conditions. There was even more grip than during last year race. We managed to work well, both in the tyre comparison and on the electronics settings. We collected a lot of data that will help us face the race weekend in the best possible way. Philipp’s adaptation is proceeding well, he manages to be fast on all tyres. I’m happy with both the team’s work and Philipp’s, even though it will probably be much warmer at the weekend than today’s conditions. “
