It’s been a long wait for Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) but the #21 can finally say he led a MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship session again after topping Free Practice 2, and Friday’s running, at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. The Italian used the SCQ tyre to set his best lap time as he finished 0.150s clear of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in second while Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was third despite not finding time in FP2 for the Prometeon Spanish Round.
RINALDI P1, BAUTISTA P11: a topsy-turvy order
Rinaldi utilised the SCQ tyre to full potential in FP2 as he set a 1’39.591s to move into top spot with a few minutes left to go in the afternoon session, ensuring he beat Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to P1 by just 0.150s. ‘Bulegas’ only improved his Free Practice 1 time in his final lap in FP2 as he settled for second, while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was third in FP2 in a Ducati 1-2-3, but was fourth in the combined classification. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), fresh from his new 2025 contract, was eighth after he set a 1’39.966s. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) completed the top 10 with reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) the last Ducati rider on Friday with P11; he set a 1’40.111s as his best time.
RAZGATLIOGLU THIRD, CLOSE TO BULEGA: breaking up the Ducatis at the top
Razgatlioglu prevented it from being a Ducati 1-2-3 in the combined classification as he took third, although he was one of a handful of riders who didn’t improve his time in the afternoon. His 1’39.766s came in FP1 but it was enough to secure third despite other riders finding time throughout the day. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made a big step from the morning to the afternoon as he moved into sixth, while Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) ensured three BMWs were in the top nine. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) was 15th but he, like Razgatlioglu, didn’t find time in FP2. He finished FP1 in seventh.
REA LEADS YAMAHA CHARGE: P5 for the #65, Locatelli 13th
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) has seemingly continued on his Estoril form at Jerez with fifth on Friday. The #65 had his best long-race result of 2024 last time out and he’ll be aiming to continue that when racing starts on Saturday, with his 1’39.874 giving him P5 and lead Yamaha honours. Teammate Andrea Locatelli was 13th but only a few tenths away from the #65. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 16th with teammate Alessandro Delbianco in 21st, with the #52 crashing at Turn 1 in the early stages of FP2. Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) claimed 19th with Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) 22nd and wildcards Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing) and Luca Bernardi (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) 24th and 27th respectively.
BASSANI ON TOP AT KAWASAKI: tech issues for Alex Lowes hamper Friday running
Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the fastest Kawasaki rider on Friday as he claimed P7, the Japanese manufacturer’s only representative in the top ten after he set a 1’39.966s – the same time as Iannone. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) entered FP2 on the backfoot after he lost 30 minutes of FP1 running. A tech issue with his ZX-10RR, with the clutch, meant he only got a few laps of running in as he finished in 12th. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th after the Spaniard set a 1’40.770s.
HONDA OUT OF THE TOP TEN: can they return to Estoril form?
Honda came into Jerez on a good run of form but, after the first day, it looks like it’ll be a challenge to repeat that after Friday’s running, although Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was P5 in FP1. Lecuona was the top Honda with 14th after the Estoril podium finisher posted a 1’40.241s, while teammate Xavi Vierge was 17th. Wildcard Tetsuta Nagashima (Team HRC) took 20th with the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda team duo of Tarran Mackenzie and Ivo Lopes, standing in for Adam Norrodin for the season finale, were 23rd and 25th respectively.
