Iker Lecuona led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Spaniard covered the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) track in 1:49.578 to lead the field of 22 riders.

Sam Lowes was second-best with a 1:49.588 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R. 

Lecuona’s teammate, Nicolò Bulega, was third with a 1:49.659. 

American Garrett Gerloff was 7th with a time of 1:49.991 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. 

More from a press release issued by WSBK:

Bulega tops Friday running at Aragon, Lecuona fastest in FP2 despite Turn 8 crash. The two factory Ducati riders were quick throughout Friday, with Bulega topping FP1 and Lecuona topping FP2.

Sweltering temperatures greeted the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at MotorLand Aragon as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped the times on Friday, while teammate Iker Lecuona was fastest in Free Practice 2 with all but two riders quicker in Free Practice 1 than in the afternoon at MotorLand Aragon. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished Day 1 of the Aragon Round in third place, also thanks to his FP1 time.

BULEGA TOPS FRIDAY RUNNING, LECUONA QUICKEST IN FP2

Bulega finished Friday’s action on top thanks to his FP1 time of a 1’48.916s, with his time in FP2 around seven tenths off that pace. He pipped teammate Lecuona by 0.022s to take top spot on the combined timesheets, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finishing as the third-fastest Ducati, and fifth overall. The #14 completed just two timed laps in FP1 before a crash at Turn 12 ended his session. In FP2, Lecuona was the fastest rider on track with a 1’49.578s, but he had a crash at Turn 8 in the final moments of the session. Sam Lowes was second in the afternoon with Bulega third. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed fifth place with a 1’49.609s, directly ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) who was seventh fastest. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) was eighth, despite a late crash in FP2 at Turn 13, with Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) and Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) rounding out the top ten. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished 11^th on the combined timesheets as he racked up the mileage after being declared fit, and he was sixth in FP2.

ALEX LOWES LEADS BIMOTA CHARGE

There was Little to separate the two bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team riders on Friday. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished as the fastest of the pair thanks to his FP1 time of 1’49.442s, which was good enough for P3 in the morning session and overall, with Bassani one place and 0.053s behind the #22.

VIERGE ON TOP AT YAMAHA

Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was the fastest Yamaha on the combined timesheets as he claimed P13 with a 1’50.096s set in Free Practice 1, with the #97 three tenths clear of teammate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) who finished in 15^th. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 16^th despite a late crash at Turn 1 in FP2, while teammate Stefano Manzi posted a 1’50.664s to finish in 19^th. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and teammate Mattia Rato were 21^st and 22^nd respectively.

VAN DER MARK, SOOMER FIGHT FOR BMW HONOURS

With regular race riders Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira still recovering from their injuries, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team have drafted in Michael van der Mark and Hannes Soomer for the Aragon Round. The Dutchman hit some technical problems at the end of FP1, and the pair finished 18^th and 20^th respectively on Friday’s combined timesheets.

GERLOFF HOPES FORM CONTINUES

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) headed to Aragon on the back of two stand-out weekends on the ZX-10RR machine and is hoping he can be in the top ten at a track he’s had multiple podiums at. The #31 finished FP1 in 12^th place with a 1’50.077s but improved in the scorching FP2 conditions to a 1’49.991s, although he remained in the same place on the combined timesheets.

CHANTRA FASTEST AT HONDA, DIXON CRASHES ON RETURN

Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) was the fastest of the two Honda riders on Friday as he finished in 14^th place, with his FP1 time of 1’50.355s giving him that place overall. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) didn’t get off to the start he would have wanted in his first WorldSBK session during a weekend, after he crashed at Turn 12 in FP1. Although it was a lowside fall, the #96’s bike caught the kerbs and rolled, meaning he only took part in the first 15 minutes of the morning session. Dixon had a second medical review after FP1 for his wrist injury, and he was declared fit following that check. The Brit was the first rider to improve their time in FP2 compared to FP1, setting a 1’50.482s to give him 17^th overall.

The top six from WorldSBK on Friday, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’48.916s
2. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.022s
3. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.526s
4. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.579s
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.635s
6. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.693s

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