It wasn’t just the temperatures that were rising at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” as the pace ramped up in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed Friday honours by 0.190s ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). The top two in the standings traded fastest laps throughout the day, with ‘El Turco’ fastest in FP1 and ‘Bulegas’ quickest in FP2, at the Pirelli Emilia-Romaga Round.

BULEGA SETS THE PACE: two tenths clear of Razgatlioglu

Bulega set the fastest lap of the day in FP2 with a 1’32.722s as he beat Razgatlioglu by almost two tenths after a stellar lap time for the Championship leader, with both Bulega and Razgatlioglu having a big margin over their rivals. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was an impressive third in FP2 which gave him fourth in the combined classification after setting a 1’33.640s, although it wasn’t enough for third in the combined standings – that belonged to Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who was fourth in FP2, just 0.014s away from Montella. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) took sixth on Friday, exactly one second away from Bulega’s time. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) secured a top-ten finish on his return to action on Friday with a 1’33.847s, with Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) down in 14^th; however, the Brit had been in the top ten in FP2 to show good promise under the scorching sun in Italy. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) was just behind his fellow Brit. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was just ahead of Redding and Vickers in 13^th but didn’t set a lap time in FP2 as his Panigale V4R suffered from electrical issues.

RAZGATLIOGLU ON THE PACE: rapid speed in the hot conditions

Razgatlioglu was the first rider to dip into the 1’32s bracket as he set a 1’32.912s to briefly claim top spot ahead of title rival Bulega, although the #11 was able to usurp ‘El Turco’ in the final 10 minutes of the session. On the flip side, teammate Michael van der Mark had a tricky day. He crashed at Turn 1 in FP1 and then at Turn 10 in FP2, while he also had technical issues in the afternoon session. He finished the day in 16^th place with a 1’34.199s – one of six riders not to improve in FP2.

MIXED DAY AT YAMAHA: Gardner quick but crashes twice, Rea has electrical issues in FP1

Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the fastest Yamaha rider on Friday through his FP1 effort, with the Australian star losing track time in FP2 after a crash at Turn 3. He was able to re-join the action in the final minutes of FP2, before he crashed at Turn 13, and he was unable to improve his time from FP1, his 1’.33.669s giving him P5 overall. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) set a 1’33.748s to claim seventh in FP2 and also in the combined classification, around a tenth away from Montella in P4. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) had one of his strongest days of the year with  in FP2, and ninth overall, while it was a tricky day for Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha). The #65 lost a lot of running in FP1 due to an electrical issue on his Yamaha R1, while he was 17^th in FP1 with a 1’34.437s. At the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team, WorldSBK returning Michael Rinaldi was 19^th with teammate Bahattin Sofuoglu 20th; the Turkish youngster had three crashes throughout the day; at Turn 1 and Turn 15 in FP1, and at Turn 16 in FP2.

ALEX LOWES LEADS BIMOTA’S HOME ROUND CHARGE: little to separate the Bimota pair

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was able to reserve the roles from FP1 as he led the Italian brand’s home round on Friday, after teammate Axel Bassani was the quicker of the pair in FP1, finishing in eighth place. The #22 set a 1’33.810s as he secured his spot in the top ten while Bassani missed out by just 0.033s – finishing in 11^th, behind Iannone.

JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN: can Honda find gains heading to Saturday?

Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) led Honda’s charge on Friday at Misano as he was joined by teammate Xavi Vierge after the #97 was declared fit following FP1. However, Lecuona’s afternoon was interrupted by a Turn 4 lowside in the second half of FP2. Lecuona set a 1’33.890s, from FP1, to take 12^th in the combined classification while Vierge was 19^th – he went half-a-second quicker in FP2 compared to FP1. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was 21^st ahead of Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) in 23^rd.

GERLOFF WITH WORK TO DO: 17^th for the Texan

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was left frustrated at the recent Misano test and was hoping to make gains during the round. He was quick in the early stages of FP2, fighting for the top ten positions, but ultimately finished in 17^th place with a 1’34.294s, being one of 10 riders to improve their lap time in the first half of FP2 compared to the FP1 attempt.

The top six from Friday’s WorldSBK action, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’32.722s

2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’32.912s +0.190s

3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’33.372s +0.650s

4. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’33.640s +0.918s

5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’33.669s +0.947s

6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’33.722s +1.000s

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