World Superbike: Jonathan Rea Quickest On Day One Of Testing At Jerez

World Superbike: Jonathan Rea Quickest On Day One Of Testing At Jerez

© 2019, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By David Swarts.

FIM Superbike World Championship

Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto

Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

November 28, 2019

Unofficial Day One Test Results (all on Pirelli tires):

  1. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kawasaki), 1:39.207
  2. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Yamaha), 1:39.226
  3. Michael van der Mark, Netherlands (Yamaha), 1:39.541
  4. Alex Lowes, UK (Kawasaki), 1:39.780
  5. Loris Baz, France (Yamaha), 1:40.128
  6. Scott Redding, UK (Ducati), 1:40.137
  7. Tom Sykes, UK (BMW), 1:40.431
  8. Chaz Davies, UK (Ducati), 1:40.659
  9. Niccolo Canepa, Italy (Yamaha), 1:40.854
  10. Eugene Laverty, Ireland (BMW), 1:40.971
  11. Michele Pirro, Italy (Ducati), 1:40.995
  12. Garrett Gerloff, USA (Yamaha), 1:41.068
  13. Xavi Fores, Spain (Kawasaki), 1:41.098
  14. Federico Caricasulo, Italy (Yamaha), 1:41.439
  15. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Kawasaki), 1:41.527

 

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

Jerez Test – Day 1

Rea beats Razgatlioglu to top slot on day one of Jerez test

Just 0.019s split the two riders at the Jerez test, making for a close end to day one, whilst a mouth-watering prospect awaits on day two and for 2020!

Day one of the 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship test at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto has come to a close, with riders and teams testing new parts and new bikes ahead of the new season. Returning riders and WorldSBK rookies were on track looking for the perfect set-up for their 2020 season, whilst WorldSSP also joined the on-track action. Although four red flags interrupted proceedings, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) pipped Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) to finish on top of the pile ahead of day two.

Improving the package in specific areas and continuing to experiment with new ideas regarding balance and set-ups for various scenarios, the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK continued their pre-season testing with a strong afternoon in the south of Spain. Jonathan Rea was the first rider under the 1’40 mark, whilst Alex Lowes elevated himself up to second with just two hours of track time to go.

Over at Ducati, it was a tough afternoon for Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), who ran on at Turn 5 and beached his Ducati. The British rider re-joined the track but slipped down to seventh with less than two hours to go, although he recovered in the end and finished day one in sixth. Davies was just two places behind and was working on ergonomics, whilst working on rear shock feelings together with Ohlins. Michele Pirro (BARNI Racing Team) was just outside the top ten in 11th.

Yamaha were also working on a vast array of things across their bikes, as Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team) was the first out on track. Toprak was experimenting with engine braking and was keen to refine his riding position; the Turk finished second overall, splitting KRT duo Rea and Lowes. Setting 98 laps, Michael van der Mark was also working hard on improving his feeling with new parts on the 2019 bike and finished inside the top four. Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha) was as high as third but slipped down to overall, as he continued to work on a solution for his top speed deficit. Niccolo Canepa was out on track too and was the only rider with the 2020 Yamaha R1, finishing ninth.

For the first time for the 2020 season, BMW were on track, meaning Eugene Laverty made his debut with the German manufacturer. Laverty suffered a technical problem which brought out the second red flag, leaving oil on the track at Turn 2. Tom Sykes spent his day testing different chassis characteristics, whilst also experimenting with a different electronics strategy and swingarm parts too. Tom Sykes finished the day in seventh whilst Laverty was tenth overall.

At GRT Yamaha, both Federico Caricasulo and Garrett Gerloff continued their adaptation to World Superbike life. The Italian was not inside the top ten for most of the day, and, like at Aragon, was working on his riding position on the bike. Garrett Gerloff set more than 70 laps on his first time at Jerez and spent most of the day inside the top ten before finishing 12th. Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was still getting used to be being back on a WorldSBK-spec motorcycle and was one place further back in 13th, whilst Caricasulo and Lorenzo Savadori (Team Pedercini Racing) were 14th and 15th respectively.

 

WorldSSP: Krummenacher on top of WorldSSP after day one of Jerez test

World Supersport action was back and despite the onslaught of rookies, the reigning Champion’s experience propelled him to the top of the timesheets

At the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, the FIM Supersport World Championship was also in action with numerous leading riders on track. A day blighted by red flags gave some teams the chance to bed-in their 2020 set-ups and for the raft of rookies to come to terms with their 2020 challenge. Ending the day on top however was reigning WorldSSP Champion Randy Krummenacher (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse), making his debut for MV Agusta, whilst Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) were in behind.

Learning a new bike and taking his crew with him to the MV Agusta set-up, Randy Krummenacher’s title defence started well, setting 50 laps throughout the day. The Swiss rider was under four seconds from Jonathan Rea’s (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) time from WorldSBK and just over half-a-tenth ahead of fellow WorldSSP rider, Philipp Öettl. Fresh from a test in Valencia, Oettl was up to speed on day one, with the German finishing ahead of Isaac Viñales, who is on a more-or-less identical bike to 2019 and has the aim of fighting for the title in 2020.

Fourth overall was Andrea Locatelli (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team), as the Italian also made his switch from Moto2™ to World Supersport. Setting over 60 laps on the Yamaha R6, the Italian stated he needs to go step by step and set as many laps as possible to understand the bike better. He was ahead of 2019 Moto2™ rival Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing), who set 68 laps on his first time out on a WorldSSP bike. Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) adapted quickly to his first Yamaha experience and was sixth out of nine WorldSSP riders.

Federico Fuligni was back fighting fit with the MV Agusta and was seventh come the end of the day. Firstly, adapting to the bike and then trying to adapt the bike to his style, Can Öncü (Turkish Racing Team) turned a first wheel in WorldSSP. He was eighth, just ahead of Loris Cresson (Team Toth), as the Belgian rider completed the WorldSSP running order.

 

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