Iker Lecuona was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 (FP1) Friday morning at Cremona Circuit, in Italy. Riding his Pirelli-shod Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R on the 2.34-mile (3.77 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:28.278 to lead the field of 22 riders.
His teammate, Nicolo Bulega was the best of the rest with a 1:28.397.
Lorenzo Baldassarri was third-fastest with a 1:28.582 on his Team Goeleven Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 8th with a 1:29.063 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Danilo Petrucci was 22nd with a time of 1:31.115 on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.
More, from a press release issued by WSBK:
Lecuona beats Bulega by 0.119s in FP1 at Cremona, #11 crashes at Turn 10. The Spanish rider was just over a tenth clear of his teammate, while Championship leader Bulega crashed.
The EICMA Italian Round kicked off with Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped the times ahead of teammate Nicolo Bulega. It wasn’t all plain sailing for ‘Bulegas’ as he had a slow speed crash at Turn 10 right at the end of the session, although he was able to walk away from the fall. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) completed the top three with a late lap.
Free Practice 1 featured the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati duo trying to trade blows, with just over a tenth separating Lecuona and Bulega at the end of the 45-minute session. It was the #7 who came out on top with a 1’28.331s while Bulega was just 0.119s behind after posting a 1’28.397s. The #11 ended the session in the gravel trap when he crashed at Turn 10, although he was able to walk away from it. Baldassarri put in a very late lap in FP1 to claim third with a 1’28.582s.
Sam Lowes secured fourth place as he dipped into the 1’28s bracket, setting a 1’28.752s as he finished almost five tenths behind Lecuona’s fastest time. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) had a rollercoaster session, opening with a delayed start while the team worked on his Panigale V4 R machine before a crash at Turn 13 with 28 minutes remaining. In the second half of FP1, he climbed the order with a 1’28.847s to finish fifth. His late lap demoted Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) with the #67 only 0.004s away from the #5.
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) had been running in the top six before was demoted by Montella and Baldassarri as he finished in seventh place. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) claimed eighth when he set a 1’29.063s, less than a second away from Lecuona’s time, with Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) starting his weekend, and his team’s home round, with ninth place. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounded out the top ten.
The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:
- Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’28.278s
- Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.119s
- Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +0.304s
- Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.474s
- Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.569s
- Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +0.573s
Don’t miss FP2 from 15:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!
