The final round of the 2024 Superbike World Championship season started with a few surprises, most notably Michael Ruben Rinaldi topping the second practice session and the Yamaha YZF-R1 and six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea finding speed and consistency early in the weekend. Just a few points shy of clinching the title, Toprak Razgatlioglu was steady and patient on Friday, although he told the media that the only thing on his mind was winning races over the weekend.

American Garrett Gerloff, in his last race weekend aboard the Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR, was ninth but only a quarter of a second out of second place. Gerloff said he was still struggling a bit for pace and consistency and was looking for gains on Saturday.

American Mallory Dobbs crashed in the World Women’s Circuit Racing qualifying session but still managed to take eighth place on the grid.

In her WorldWCR debut, American wildcard Sonya Lloyd, who races a Yamaha YZF-R7 in MotoAmerica competition, qualified 21st.

Jonathan Rea finished the Superbike practice sessions fourth and fifth. The factory Yamaha rider’s fortunes have taken an upward trajectory since Yamaha introduced wings as part of an upgrade to the YZF-R1.