Toprak Razgatlioglu led World Superbike Free practice 3 (FP3) Saturday morning, at Autodrom Most, in The Czech Republic. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR on spec Pirelli tires, Razgatlioglu recorded a lap time of 1:30.915 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Nicolo Bulega was second with a 1:31.113 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci did a 1:31.165 on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R to earn the third and final spot on the front row.
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 17th with a 1:32.099 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Razgatlioglu remains fastest on Saturday morning at Most as he beats Bulega by two tenths in FP3. The reigning Champion continued to be the rider to beat in Czechia as he topped the third and final practice session ahead of title rival Nicolo Bulega.
Saturday’s action for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field kicked off with a 20-minute Free Practice 3 session, which was topped by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) at the Autodrom Most. ‘El Turco’ made it three from three in practice for the Motul Czech Round as he finished ahead of Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) by two tenths.
Unlike ahead of Friday’s action, the track was completely dry for Saturday morning as riders ventured out on track for their last chance to prepare for Tissot Superpole and racing at Most. However, like Friday’s action, Razgatlioglu was on top of the timesheets. His first representative lap was a 1’30.915s to move half-a-second clear at that point, although the gap came down as the session progressed. Bulega, declared fit following his FP1 highside, claimed second place with a 1’31.113s; two tenths away from ‘El Turco’. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) took third place, around half-a-tenth down on Bulega in second.
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was fourth in the 20-minute session after setting a 1’31.352s, ahead of Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) in fifth after the #65 had a strong Saturday morning. The six-time Champion set a 1’31.391s to take P5 ahead of Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in sixth, with just a few hundredths separating the Italian and the Brit.
Honda’s Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) was seventh with a 1’31.435s, finishing 0.036s clear of two-time Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in eighth. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was ninth but his session came to an early end when he crashed at Turn 20, the penultimate corner on the circuit. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 11th ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). The #14 had posted a 1’31.391s, the same as Rea, but lost it due to yellow flags for his brother’s crash, meaning he finished the session in 11th and perhaps out of position.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was also a crasher in FP3. The Italian fell at Turn 2, the left-hander that makes up the second part of the opening chicane, but he was able to re-join the action and take his Yamaha R1 back to the pits following his fall. He finished the session in P12 with a 1’31.848s.
The top six from Saturday morning’s FP3, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’30.915s
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.198s
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.250s
4. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.437s
5. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.476s
6. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.508s
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