Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished Friday at the Autodrom Most on top of the timesheets after two practice sessions for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field. Like in FP1, a rain shower earlier in the day left the track damp but drying as the session started, with patches of water reported between Turns 6 and 10. Riders were quick to head out on track but it wasn’t until the second half of the session that the pace ramped up during the Motul Czech Round.
RAZGATLIOGLU ON TOP: a chance to claw back points?
Razgatlioglu cemented his position as pre-round favourite as he topped both FP1 and FP2, posting a 1’31.318s in FP2 for his fastest time of the day to secure first place on the combined timesheets. ‘El Turco’ was the first rider to lap in the 1’31s bracket as the track dried in both practice sessions, although several other riders did join him in that bracket in FP2. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was the last rider to improve his time compared to FP1, lapping just under six tenths down on teammate Razgatlioglu after posting a 1’31.899s.
SAM LOWES IN FORM: the #14 leads Ducati’s charge, Bulega P4
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) secured P2 on Friday with a 1’31.542s to finish as the lead Ducati rider, and a couple of tenths behind Razgatlioglu. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fourth in the combined classification as he felt the effects of his huge FP1 highside at Turn 6, which left him with contusions to his right ankle and left knee. ‘Bulegas’ is set to be reviewed after FP2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fifth, around a quarter of a tenth behind his teammate, while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed P6. ‘Petrux’ set a 1’31.727s to finish. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) showed some good potential in FP2 as he claimed 12th place with a 1’32.441s. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was 17th with Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) in 18th; the Brit had a late-session crash at Turn 20 in FP2.
BIMOTA IN PODIUM CONTENTION? Alex Lowes third, Bassani seveth…
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) led the Bimota charge on Friday in Czechia, finishing third with a 1’31.607s, lapping around three tenths back from pacesetter Razgatlioglu as he showed strong pace. Teammate Axel Bassani put both KB998 Rimini machines in the top ten as he claimed seventh with a 1’31.738s, just a tenth back from his teammate but with four riders between the Bimota duo.
TRICKY DAY FOR YAMAHA: three riders crash, Locatelli leads the way
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was one of several crashers in FP1, when he crashed at Turn 17, but he was back out on track in FP2 as he claimed ninth place in the combined classification, with teammate Jonathan Rea four places behind the #55; Rea also crashed in FP1, at Turn 8. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) has shown impressive speed at Most and finished the day in 14th place, ahead of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in 15th; the Australian had a crash at Turn 21 in FP1. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Tito Rabat (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) finished the day in 19th and 21st respectively.
HONDAS AS CLOSE AS EVER: Vierge just pips Lecuona
As is often the case at Honda, Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) and teammate Xavi Vierge were close on the timesheets – to the point where, with seven minutes remaining, they’d both posted a 1’32.065s. However, in the final seconds, Vierge improved to a 1’32.014s to just move clear of Lecuona, although they finished P10 and P11 respectively. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) finished in 20th while Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) was 22nd; the Malaysian rider had an early crash in FP2 at Turn 10 but was able to re-join the session.
GERLOFF CLOSE TO THE TOP TEN: just half-a-tenth away…
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) finished in 16th as the sole Kawasaki rider on the grid, although, with a condensed field in FP2, was 1.2 seconds off the pace however, finding two tenths would move him up to 12th place.
