All-Time Superbike Lap Record: 1:38.247, Jonathan Rea, 2019

Superbike Race Lap Record: 1:39.004, Alvaro Bautista, 2019

FIM Superbike World Championship

Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

January 23, 2020

Unofficial Day Two Test Results (wet-to-dry-to-wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires):

1. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:40.983
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Yam YZF-R1), 1:41.214
3. Scott Redding, UK (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:41.407
4. Alex Lowes, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:41.642
5. Michael van der Mark, Netherlands (Yam YZF-R1), 1:42.707
6. Leon Haslam, UK (Hon CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP), 1:42.797
7. Loris Baz, France (Yam YZF-R1), 1:43.384
8. Alvaro Bautista, Spain (Hon CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP), 1:43.579
9. Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Italy (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:43.789
10. Federico Caricasulo, Italy (Yam YZF-R1), 1:43.811
11. Tom Sykes, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:44.014
12. Maximilian Scheib, Chile (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:44.153
13. Garrett Gerloff, USA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:44.214
14. Sandro Cortese, Germany (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:44.258
15. Chaz Davies, UK (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:44.276
16. Sylvain Barrier, France (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:44.322
17. Leandro Mercado, Argentina (Duc Panigale V4 R), 1:44.451
18. Eugene Laverty, Ireland (BMW S1000RR), 1:44.543
19. Christophe Ponsson, France (Apr RSV4), lap time unavailable

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:

Jerez Test – Day 2

Rea beats Razgatlioglu to the top as WorldSBK test at Jerez ends

Completing just a few laps was all that was needed for Jonathan Rea, whilst Yamaha, Ducati and Honda all impressed inside the leading positions

The final day of Jerez testing brought the only sunshine available out to play for a handful of hours before more rain meant that most teams remained in their garages with a couple of hours to go. With Honda on top of day one, it was Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Kawasaki who were on top after doing 19 laps across the two days. Behind him, 2019 rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WORLDSBK OFFICIAL TEAM) and Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), making it three manufacturers inside the top three.

There was very little track action across both days for the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK outfit, as they vowed to keep their reigning WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea in the box for the entirety of day one, before he ventured out on day two. With little to try because he already knows the ZX-10RR so comprehensively, new teammate Alex Lowes did more work. The WorldSBK race winner experimented with launch control settings and wasn’t worried about the lack of dry time, as he was fast in testing in years gone by but then got to the first round and it had been a different story. Heading to Portugal, Rea is on top and Lowes is fourth.

Two-time race winner Toprak Razgatlioglu was in fine form across the test and despite suffering a Turn 1 crash on Wednesday, he bounced back to lead the way for the majority of the second day. However, once Jonathan Rea had gone out, Razgatlioglu was pushed back to second, although just over two tenths behind the Ulsterman. Michael van der Mark (PATA YAMAHA WORLDSBK OFFICIAL TEAM) joined his teammate at the sharp end and completed the top five, 1.7s behind Rea.

Making it three manufacturers inside the top three, Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) took his Ducati Panigale V4 R around the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto track. Having raced at the track more than most of his competitors from his MotoGP™ paddock days, the 27-year-old British ace had a good run at a circuit he knows well in order to learn the WorldSBK-spec of the V4 R’s intricacies. Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) had a tough test and was 15th at the end of it all, crashing twice on the first day and completing less than 30 laps on day two.

Day one saw the highly awaited first public appearance of the all-new Honda CBR1000RR-R and it ended the day on top of the WorldSBK pile in the hands of Leon Haslam (HRC Team). On Thursday, the bike couldn’t quite replicate the position, but it was a good indicator of what the bike was capable of in drying conditions. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ finished in sixth come the end of play and hailed the support of HRC, giving him the confidence to achieve great things. For Bautista, the objective is still to find a good base setting and to learn the technicalities of an in-line four-cylinder motorcycle, something he has never ridden before. Bautista ended day two in eighth.

In seventh place was the first of the Independent riders and Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). The 26-year-old WorldSBK race winner was right in the mix across the two days of testing, testing with the new 2020 Yamaha YZF R1. The wet weather running was confirmation that the team have improved the set-up of the bike in general, whilst they also practiced race starts and refined their electronics. Along with Baz in the top ten were other Independent riders were Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GOELEVEN) and Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team), the latter of which suffered two crashes.

Outside the top ten was Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in eleventh, as the BMW squad didn’t try too much during the second day. Combined with teammate Eugene Laverty, the two did 65 laps in total across the second day with a primary focus on Laverty, who hailed the chassis but has engine desires in order to move forward. With two chassis to test, the Shaun Muir Racing team will be busy with more development at Portimao; ‘Norge’ was 18th.

ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA were up in 12th place with WorldSBK rookie Maximilian Scheib, who quietly impressed around the WorldSBK paddock at Jerez. The Chilean rider’s main aim was to familiarise his way with the ZX-10RR, whilst placing fourth out of the Independent riders. Third on day one, it was 13th for Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) on day two, whilst Sandro Cortese (Barni Racing Team) was 14th on his deputising duty. The German rider, who liked the feeling from his Ducati Panigale V4 R, is still without a ride on the 2020 grid. Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance) was 16th on his Ducati, ahead of Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing).

More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:

Two days of testing conclude at Jerez de la Frontera for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati with Redding and Davies in 3rd and 15th position respectively

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team archived the first tests of the 2020 WorldSBK season at the Jerez – Angel Nieto Circuit (Spain). After a first day conditioned by the incessant rain that made the track conditions tricky, causing many crashes, on the second day of activity Scott Redding and Chaz Davies managed to put together a good number of laps – in almost dry track conditions – obtaining important data to improve the feeling with their Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Scott Redding, protagonist of a convincing Day-1 (44 laps, P4) lapped with great consistency also in the second day of testing (43 laps completed) finishing with the third quickest time (1’41.407), 4 tenths of a second off Rea (Kawasaki).

A crash after two laps forced Chaz Davies to skip the first day of activity. The Welshman returned on track today completing 27 laps but was unable to find the ideal conditions to push at the maximum (P15, 1’44.276).

Chaz Davies, Scott Redding and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will move tomorrow morning to Portugal where two more days of testing are scheduled on Sunday and Monday at the Algarve International Circuit (Portimão).

Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45) – 1’41.407 (3rd)

“My first goal is to get to know the bike well, to get to know the team, to understand the tyre behaviour in the best possible way, to work to create a solid base. If I have to be honest, I am very satisfied with what we have done so far. I have had a good feeling during these two days even if, obviously, the weather has not helped us. I still feel comfortable in both wet and dry conditions. There are some areas where we need to improve but the balance of these days is very positive”.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 1’44.267 (15th)

“We worked on the bike and that didn’t allow me to focus on performance. I can’t hide the fact that we have encountered some issues in these tests but I am sure we can be much more competitive in the next two days at Portimao. The base to work on, obviously, is very good but we need to put together many laps. That is why I hope to have four days in dry conditions between the tests in Portugal and Australia. This would allow us to arrive in the best conditions in the first race of the season”.

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

KRT Prepares For 2020 Season At Jerez

The Jerez de la Frontera circuit supplied the backdrop for the KRT duo of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes to complete an important pre-season test session alongside most of their 2020 WorldSBK rivals.

The Spanish track featured changeable weather and often a wet surface during this test, for almost all of day one and much of the second day. After the track conditions started to dry on the final day five times World Champion Rea ended up fastest of all, with a best lap of 1’40.983. Lowes was fourth overall before the tests were completed and 0.659 seconds from Jonathan.

After the team saw the changeable weather forecast for Wednesday and Thursday they took the unexpected opportunity to set some dry laps on Tuesday. Rea sat out the first day of the combined tests but new team member Lowes was inside the top positions after his first fully wet test sessions on his official Ninja ZX-10RR machine.

Bonding well with his bike and team Lowes worked on feel in the wet on day one and then getting more comfortable with his ergonomic package on day two, finding a better riding position that he can take forward.

Rea’s eventual fastest time of the tests was set after completing only 19 laps today. He made progress with his machine’s handling and set-up package as the track conditions improved.

Some rival teams will now head to Portimao to take part in another two days of testing but KRT will undertake its own private one-day test at the Montmelo circuit in Catalunya on Monday 27th January. The KRT official launch, in Barcelona, will be the final big item on the KRT European ‘to-do list’, on Thursday 6 February.

The ultimate pre-season tests will take place at the opening round venue of Phillip Island in Australia, a few days before the start of a whole new racing season.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “The weather was not playing ball really. We sat out yesterday because the conditions were quite wet and changeable. One minute it was monsoon weather and then a drying track. Today were found a track that, although it wasn’t perfect and had a few damp patches that compromised the racing line, was consistent enough to try some items on the bike. We tried to focus on getting the bike to turn a little bit easier and I think we made a step forward in that direction. We need to confirm that in our test at Montmelo on Monday before we get to go Australia. We also managed to get a few laps in on Tuesday, where we basically confirmed all the items that we had in November. The positives were that we got to try a different balance of the bike.”

Alex Lowes, stated: “It was a real good test and I am happy I got to ride the bike in mixed conditions. I was fast in the wet and the drying conditions and I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable on the bike. I really enjoyed it and I feel like we are making some steps in the right direction before Phillip Island. I feel I have a good riding position now; one that I can keep. We did not get that much dry track time but I certainly do feel more comfortable than when I got here, so that is positive. Any time you get to ride a new track is great and Montmelo is a new addition to the calendar. It will be important to get in as many laps as we can and a good a understanding of the bike. Any track time is important to let me keep building on my confidence for the first race.”

Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “Yesterday it was raining all day but the day before we got some track time in during the afternoon. We could make some small tests that were in the plan. We did that because the weather forecast said we would have two days of rain afterwards. For us there was no point to ride in the rain on Wednesday. On the final day today we had maybe three hours on slick tyres but some corners were still damp and the lap times were maybe 1.5 seconds from where they should be. We did 19 laps today with standard tyres. Now we go to Montmelo on Monday, which is new track for Johnny and us. I am excited to go there because we have never been there with the Superbike.”

Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “Maybe 75% of our track time at this test was wet but this gave us the opportunity to let Alex get a first impression of the ZX-10RR in the these conditions. It was very positive. From the first exit he felt the bike was performing very well. He made two exits and only eight flying laps and he went to the top. What pleased me was that he said, ‘OK that is enough in the wet because I know how the bike behaves and performs well.’ In the late morning today the track started to dry out and we went out, first on wet tyres, but then on slicks. Although the conditions at that time made it five seconds slower than in normal dry conditions again Alex went to the top of the time sheets. He has shown a lot of potential and confidence in the bike in any conditions. One more day on track to go next week and then we go to Phillip Island.”

More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK Team:

The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team conclude two-day testing despite mixed conditions 

BMW Motorrad WorldSBK’s Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty today completed their two-day testing program at the the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, despite lack of dry weather practice. With mixed conditions at the Spanish track this limited much of the testing plan, however gave opportunity for both riders to test new component fitments to their BMW S 1000 RR’s ahead of the 2020 WorldSBK season opener in Australia.

With base set-up a key factor of the 2020 test, the BMW engineers also worked throughout the two days on electronic development and different traction control strategies, which will help to improve grip for the S 1000 RR.

At the end of the test Tom Sykes lapped a best lap time of (1’44.014), with team-mate Eugene Laverty circulating a 1’44.543.

As the two-day test at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto draws to a close the team will now travel across the border to the Autódromo Internacional de Algarve, where they will complete their final European pre-season test of 2020.

Shaun Muir, Team Principal: “We’ve had a big list of parts to run through this test, the wet conditions did change the sequence of what we were going to be testing but this allowed us to give extra emphasis on our electronic updates. Both Tom an Eugene worked through our list which was definitely a benefit, unfortunately we didn’t get to work on the chassis and swing-arm during this test but heading over to Portimao in a couple of days this will allow us to gain a clear direction to work in.  In summary of the two-day test and the constant changing conditions we have not been looking at the lap times, in any respect that’s not what we are here to do and our focus has solely been on development and overall I feel it’s been a valuable and constructive test.”

Tom Sykes: “Despite how bad the weather conditions have been we have actually been able to do some good fundamental work on the electronics and some small changes on the chassis. In an ideal world we would test all our parts at racing speed however having said that we have been very productive in the small time we have had. In conditions like this I’ve not been looking at the time sheets, the track changes every 20 mins and there is nothing I would achieve by risking everything, we’ve used the track time to understand some electronic parameters and now we can take this understanding forward and pencil it into our testing plan over in Portimao this weekend.”

 Eugene Laverty: “We are in a much better position than where we were from the last test, however the lap times may not reflect that as I’ve taken a role of test rider over the last two days. We have made good progress with the electronics and other small parameters on the bike so heading into Portimao with some good weather hopefully we can kick on a little and start improving our lap times.”

More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:

BRT concluded two days test in Jerez: Cortese takes work further in Portimao, with Camier’s attendance
 
Jerez de la Frontera, 23rd January 2020. Rain and cold temperatures conditioned the two days of test in Jerez, Spain, and the debut of Sandro Cortese on the saddle of the Barni Racing Team’s Ducati Panigale V4 R.

The German replaced the injured Leon Camier, who not attend this test due to the consequence of the surgery on his left shoulder he had last December.

Cortese will take the work further even at Portimao next Sunday and Monday letting the Barni Racing Team to develop some new components on the bike, but Leon will attend the test trying to do some laps on his machinery.

Day one was ruined by rain that continued to fall intermittently which put many riders in trouble. Due to the numerous crash the organizer were forced to display the red flag four times. At the end of the day Cortese set only 20 laps.

Sun beamed through from behind the clouds in the second days. With a drying track and times improving lap by lap, Cortese become better acquainted with the Ducati Panigale V4 R. His best lap time 1’44.258 saw him fourteenth overall in the timesheet despite he didn’t try a real flying lap in his 35 laps.
Marco Barnabo, Team Principal:

“Weather conditions were really bad, but for us is too important not to stop the development of the bike. Thanks to the help of Sandro we checked if all the new components on the machinery work well, and it was. Despite of rainfall we managed to use both bikes in 2020 configuration. Sandro gave us also a different point of view on the development of the bike. We learned something on his work method and it works nice. In Portimao we have to test some new components, especially on suspensions, because of that Sandro will be with us even in Portugal, where Leon will test his physical condition trying to be on the saddle for some laps.”
Sandro Cortese, #11

“First of all a big thank to Barni Racing Team and to Marco Barnabò giving me the chance of having this two days test in Jerez. Unfortunately weather condition were very bad, we had yesterday a full day of rain and even today we had mixed conditions. I still have to find a way to ride a Ducati, but I felt immediately welcome and “at home” on the Ducati family. They helped me as much as they can to put me at ease and I really appreciated that. I felt really honored to be part of them in this test trying to understand a bit how to ride the Ducati which is different from a Yamaha.

This test was important for me also because I jumped on the bike for the first time after the surgery I had three month ago on my shoulder and I felt 100% fit again. Now I’m looking forward to Portimao, Marco give me the chance to do one more test with the Panigale and I think we can work in much better conditions in Portugal.”