The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s opening session of the weekend was heavily disrupted by four red flags at the Autodrom Most. The Most Czech Round kicked off in dramatic fashion as Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) topped the times as the only rider in the 1’31s bracket, while his title rival, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), suffered a heavy crash in the second half of the 45-minute session.
It was a slow start to the 45-minute session after overnight rain left the track wet but drying, with the previous WorldSSP FP session helping to clear some of the lingering water. Times rapidly improved throughout the four-time red-flagged session. Razgatlioglu led the way with a 1’31.697s as he lapped more than half-a-second clear of his rivals. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed second place with a 1’32.241s as he lapped more than half-a-second slower than Razgatlioglu, but he usurped Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) before the fourth and final red flag was shown, ending the session around four minutes early.
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finished fourth ahead of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in fifth, but the #11 had a session-ending crash with around 13 minutes remaining. The Championship leader fell heavily after a highside at Turn 6 with Bulega launched off his bike. He was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) ensured both BMW riders were in the top six as he claimed P6 with a 1’32.069s.
Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) was P7 as Honda continued to show strong pace after he lapped the Autodrom Most in 1’32.635s, finishing a tenth ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) who was the lead Yamaha rider. However, ‘Loka’ had a highside at Turn 17 with brought out the final red flag with four minutes to go. Turkish rider Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) impressed as he secured ninth place.
Rea’s session came to an early end when he crashed at Turn 8 with around 15 minutes gone in the session. The six-time Champion lost the rear of his Yamaha R1 machine, sliding into the gravel trap between Turns 8 and 9. The incident briefly brought out the red flags due to gravel on the track at Turn 9, allowing the marshals to clear it up. A second red flag was shown around 10 minutes later following a crash for Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven), with ‘The Maniac’ highsiding at the final corner, while Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) also crashed at the same corner. Iannone was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following his fall, as was Gardner.
