Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa, Joshua Raymond, Jr., and Eli Banish finished fifth, 11th, and 16th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Race One Saturday at Brands Hatch.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Vickers victorious as podium battle goes down to the wire at Brands Hatch
The start of British Superbike Race One Saturday at Brands Hatch. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Ryan Vickers was unstoppable in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Brands Hatch as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider delivered an inch-perfect performance, whilst behind the battle for the final podium positions was a four-way fight.
At the start, Vickers immediately hit the front of the pack into Paddock Hill Bend ahead of Danny Kent, Glenn Irwin, Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell. However, the fight at the front was short lived for Kent when he crashed out of second place on the third lap at Stirlings.
Vickers set an incredible pace to break the pack to return to the top step of the podium for the first time since the season opener at Circuito de Navarra, celebrating his third victory of the year to get his title campaign firmly back on track.
There was a four-way tussle for the final podium positions with Hager PBM Ducati’s Glenn Irwin initially leading Bridewell, Iddon and Leon Haslam, but Andrew Irwin was on the move in the second half of the race and he dispensed with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team rider ahead of him.
On lap seven, Bridewell made his move on Glenn Irwin at Stirlings as the arch rivals continued their intense rivalry and the pair switched places again at Hawthorns on lap 13 when the Ducati contender moved back ahead.
Iddon was next to strike and he attacked Bridewell at Paddock Hill Bend, but the reigning champion instantly fought back to regain the position with a move at Stirlings on lap 14.
A lap later and Glenn Irwin was holding second from Bridewell as Andrew Irwin moved ahead of Iddon with a dive down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend. Whilst Bridewell surged ahead of Glenn Irwin at Stirlings before his rival recaptured the position before Clearways.
Bridewell wasn’t done and he made another move on the Hager PBM Ducati rider to take an emotional second place on the anniversary of losing his brother Ollie, meanwhile Andrew Irwin was also able to pass Glenn Irwin with five laps to go.
Bridewell and Andrew Irwin made it a double podium celebration for Honda Racing UK as they continue their resurgence after a tough season last year, relegating Glenn Irwin to fourth ahead of Iddon.
Glenn Irwin and Bridewell now head into tomorrow’s two races equal on points at the top of the standings.
Haslam held off the fight from Kyle Ryde for sixth place with Lee Jackson, Jason O’Halloran and Danny Buchan completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1 result:
Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing)
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +7.334s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +7.520s
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +8.678s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +9.095s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.708s
Kyle Ryde ( OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +11.297s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +14.822s
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +14.862s
Danny Buchan (DAO Racing Kawasaki) +16.352s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 189
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 189
hristian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 167
Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 157
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 147
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 115
Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 110
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 105
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 85
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 85
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Ryan Vickers
OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha
“That was an amazing race. Amazing start. An amazing weekend, really. Thanks again to OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing.
“We’ve had a couple of bad rounds, some our own fault and others out of our control so thanks to their belief in me, they’ve believed in what I’ve been saying about the bike, and we’ve made considerable changes for this round. I just want to deliver what I know is possible and what everyone deserves, and we did that today.
“We got out front, set some good lap times and I believe I was setting the fastest lap of the race. So I just tried to keep that pace, got in a rhythm, hit my markers and the bike was hitting the apexes.
“I used my head, kept fully focused and didn’t really slow down much. I backed off in a couple of areas where it was closer to the limit just to be a little bit safe, but I am happy to be in the 1m:25s pretty much every lap of the race.
“The improvement to this time last year is incredible and that’s just down to a load of hard work from me and the team. We’re really showing people what we can do and it’s nice to be back at the front.”
Adrian Huertas continued his and the Ducati V2’s domination in World Supersport by winning Race One at Autodrom Most. Frenchman and past MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Valentin Debise finished second on an Evan Brothers Yamaha, 3.758 seconds behind Huertas, and Pata Yamaha’s Stefani Manzi finished third, 0.134-second behind Debise and 0.834-second ahead of Yari Montella on another Ducati V2.
Huertas extends championship leads with Race 1 win
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) led the opening lap before ceding the lead to Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) on lap 2 before Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) came through on lap 3 to lead until the end of the opening race of the weekend for WorldSSP
Huertas continued his incredible form that has seen him win six of the last seven races in the class. The Ducati rider took advantage of the fight behind him to eventually lead by over three seconds. He’ll start tomorrow from the front row of the grid after setting the third fastest lap of the race
Stefano Manzi will start Race 2 from pole position after the Yamaha man broke the lap record in Race 1. His podium, his seventh of the campaign, was hard fought after a race long battle with Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) and Montella
Montella now drops 37 points adrift of Huertas in the championship standings having finished off the podium for the first time since Round 3 at the Dutch Round
Key Points:
Pole position: Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)
Race 1 winner: Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
Race fastest lap: Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 1’34.834s (New race lap record)
More on worldsbk.com
P1 | Adrian Huertas | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“It was a positive race for me because in the beginning I needed to battle. I was intelligent in the early laps and I knew the areas of the track where I had an advantage. It was really important to make a gap and then start to increase it step by step without making mistakes. Now we have important information for tomorrow and I think we can make more steps to improve the bike for Race 2. The most important is that we won today, and that we are first in the Championship standings.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at Autodrom Most, in the Czech Republic. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR on Pirelli control tires, the former World Champion won the 22-lap race by 5.740 seconds.
Italian Danilo Petrucci was the runner-up on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4 R, just 0.141 second ahead of Team GoEleven Ducati’s Andrea Iannone.
American Garrett Gerloff took eighth on his Bonovo Action BMW.
MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Hayden Gillim, who is competing as a fill-in rider for PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda, finished 21st.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) smashed the lap record during the 15 minute Superpole session. His time, 1’30.064, left him comfortably on pole position for the fourth time this season
A third front row of the season was Andrea Iannone’s reward for a superb effort in Superpole. The Team GoEleven rider matched his best qualifying performance of the season in second position
A three place grid penalty dropped Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to tenth position for Race 1. The double World Champion ended Superpole 0.953s slower than Razgatlioglu. His teammate, Nicolo Bulega, qualified off the front row of the grid for the first time in 2024
Race 1 Highlights
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made it eight wins in a row after dominating the 22 lap race. With a winning margin of over five seconds it was a comfortable success for the Turkish star who now leads the championship by 56 points from Bulega
From the second row of the grid Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) came through to finish second. The Italian matched his career best performance in the Superbike class and claimed his second podium of the season
Having opted for the harder front tyre, Iannone rounded out the podium positions. The Italian dropped from second position to fourth position at one third distance but made his way back to the podium
Having started from the second row of the grid Bulega also opted for the harder front tyre. He had a difficult race and ended in sixth position but held on to second position in the championship standings
Having suffered a grid penalty, Bautista spent the majority of the race in sixth position before making progress in the final seven laps. He first picked off his teammate Bulega on Lap 14 and then Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) with four laps remaining
Key Points:
Pole position: Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
Race 1 winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu
Race fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu 1’31.540sMore on worldsbk.com
P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“I’m happy. We have won again and we had an amazing lap time in the Superpole session. I pushed a lot on the first lap and then I just found my rhythm. I had a very good pace in the race but during the the last five laps the front was closing, especially on the left corner. After last year, when I crashed at corner two, it’s an incredible win. I want to say thanks to my team because we did an incredible job today! We have two more races tomorrow, and that’s my focus now.”
P2 | Danilo Petrucci | Barni Spark Racing Team
“I’m really happy. I said that we could fight for the podium but when you are in the race you have to fight really hard to get that podium. At the beginning, I had a bit of trouble but then I saw that Nicolo and Andrea were a bit slower going into the corners and I tried to go ahead of them. Andrea gave me a hard time until the end. I know him very well and on the last lap it is always special with him! I tried to close the doors on that lap. I can’t believe I’m here after my motocross accident and now I’m again on the podium! I want to say thanks to everyone who helped me and we’ll try again tomorrow!”
P3 | Andrea Iannone | Team GoEleven
“I’m really happy about today because we recovered a lot from yesterday. After FP1, we were 15th in the classification. My team believed in me and I want to thank them for believing we can achieve a great result today. It was a really difficult race because the temperature was really high. With Danilo in front it made it difficult for my tyre temperature and it wasn’t easy in the braking points for corners. Danilo rode faster than me today, Toprak was unbelievable but I didn’t give up and I tried my best. We’ll try a little more tomorrow!”
Toprak Razgatlioglu earned pole position during FIM Superbike World Championship Superpole qualifying Saturday at Autodrom Most, in the Czech Republic.
Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR on Pirelli control tires, the Turkish star lapped the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) course in 1:30.064. Not only was that fast enough to top the field of 23 riders, it was also fast enough to surpass Razgatlioglu’s own All-Time Lap Record of 1:30.719, which he set earlier in the day in Free Practice Three.
Andrea Iannone was second-fastest and the top Independent Team qualifier with a 1:30.729 on his Team GoEleven Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Alex Lowes claimed the third and final spot on the front row by lapping the course in 1:30.758 on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR.
American Garrett Gerloff stepped up big on Saturday and qualified eighth overall — and the second-best BMW rider — at 1:31.082 on his Bonovo Action BMW.
American Hayden Gillim, competing as a fill-in rider for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda team, qualified 23rd in the 23-rider field with a 1:33.756 in his first-ever event with the team, on Pirelli tires, and at Autodrom Most.
Yamalube YART Yamaha’s Niccolo Canepa, Marvin Fritz, and Karel Hanika captured pole position for the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hours race in Japan.
During the Top 10 Trial (a.k.a. Superpole) qualifying session Saturday, Yamalube YART Yamaha’s Marvin Fritz recorded a 2:05.130 around the famed 3.6-mile (5.8 km) road course on his Bridgestone-shod YZF-R1 to top the field.
Ducati Team Kagayama (Ryo Mizuno/Hafizh Syahrin/Josh Waters) was second-best with a 2:05.248 on their Panigale V4 R.
Team HRC with Japan Post (Teppei Nagoe/Takumi Takahashi/Johann Zarco) was third with a time of 2:05.531 on their Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
YART YAMAHA WINS TOP 10 TRIAL TO CLAIM EWC SUZUKA 8 HOURS POLE
*Reigning EWC champion team set to start iconic FIM Endurance World Championship race in first
*Ducati Team Kagayama second for maiden Suzuka appearance following new-for-2024 alliance
*MotoGP star Johann Zarco helps Team HRC to third place in action-packed showdown
Yamalube YART Yamaha’s Marvin Fritz (1) finishing his Top 10 Trial qualifying lap at Suzuka. Photo courtesy FIM EWC.
For immediate release (20 July 2024): Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team will start Sunday’s 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race from pole position after its dramatic victory in the Top 10 Trial, which sets the first 10 positions on the starting grid for Japan’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship.
Marvin Fritz’s flying lap of 2m05.130s proved decisive after team-mate Karel Hanika crashed during his Top 10 Trial run. The German rider’s effort means YART, which also includes Niccolò Canepa in its line-up, can celebrate three pole positions out of three in this season’s EWC with the five points scored putting it ahead of Yoshimura SERT Motul in the race to win the 2024 EWC title.
It was also Yamaha’s first Top 10 Trial success since Yamaha Factory Team triumphed in 2017 and came after YART had finished ahead in the combined qualifying classification after Friday’s running.
Ducati Team Kagayama, consisting of Ryo Mizuno, Hafizh Syahrin and Josh Waters, completed the Top 10 Trial in second position followed by Honda-powered Team HRC with Japan Post, which is chasing a third consecutive victory in its home round of the EWC with riders Teppei Nagoe, Takumi Takahashi and MotoGP race winner Johann Zarco.
Having failed to progress to the Top 10 Trial in 2023, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team claimed a fine fourth as Suzuki-powered Yoshimura SERT Motul rounded out the top five.
With the Top 10 Trial reserved for the 10 fastest teams according to Friday’s combined qualifying classification, the Dunlop-supplied Superstock squads – led by pole-sitting Teramoto@J-Trip Racing – were able to spend Saturday afternoon completing their preparations for Sunday’s eight-hour race.
Although F.C.C. TSR Honda France reached the Top 10 Trial – one of four permanent EWC teams to do so – Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, KM 99, Motobox Kremer Racing and Tati Team Beringer Racing could instead reflect on encouraging performances during Friday’s running. KM 99 qualified 15th, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar 18th, Tati Team Beringer Racing 31st and Motobox Kremer Racing 43rd.
YAMAHA-POWERED FRITZ REFLECTS ON FLYING LAP
“It was an amazing lap,” 31-year-old Marvin Fritz said. “At Spa I got the lap record but normally here at Suzuka Karel and Niccolò are a bit faster. But since last year I’ve got a really good feeling, especially in the third sector where I always struggled but it’s my favourite now. The bike was perfect, we work together like we all are a big family, and this is why we are always fast, all three of us. We were celebrating before Karel crashed because we knew the pole was sure, but we were happy when we saw he was standing up and fine. The bike was damaged, but the race bike is ready and we feel comfortable and confident. The main focus in the race is to gain points in the championship. Of course a win would be nice but it’s important to have good points going to the Bol d’Or [season finale].”
Of his high-speed crash in the Top 10 Trial, Hanika said: “I just tried my maximum performance, my 100 per cent and it didn’t work out. Yamaha gave us a perfect machine for this kind of session where only one lap matters. I did my best ever first sector but to be able to go under 2m05s I had to keep going like this and I just carried too much corner speed into Turn 7. Unfortunately, I lost the front and I’m really sorry for this but the most important is Marvin could manage an amazing lap, super-smooth and super-clean, which gave us the five points for the championship.”
Ryo Mizuno, who was fastest in both Blue Rider qualifying sessions on Friday, said: “I was aiming for the pole position so I’m not so super-satisfied but with the second position we did really well. The team did a really good performance and I’m very pleased how we brought everything together. Tomorrow is the day and tonight we’ll have further meetings to plan everything for tomorrow.”
MOTOGP STAR ZARCO SAVOURS TOP 10 TRIAL
Johann Zarco will start his first Suzuka 8 Hours – and his first EWC race – in third position alongside Team HRC with Japan Post team-mates Teppei Nagoe and Takumi Takahashi. After joining Takahashi in the Top 10 Trial, the French MotoGP star said: “It was special and I like it. You feel a different stress in MotoGP but I’m pretty happy I did this experience and also I did an improvement compared to yesterday and that’s important.”
TERAMOTO@J-TRIP RACING STORMS TO SUPERSTOCK POLE
Japan-based Teramoto@J-Trip Racing was the talk of the Dunlop-supplied Superstock contingent by claiming pole position for round three of the FIM Endurance World Cup. The Suzuki-equipped outfit, featuring riders Takeshi Ishizuka, an EWC regular, Takeru Murase and Koji Teramoto, excelled during qualifying for the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race to bank first place in class ahead of Team Étoile and Taira Promote Racing. NCXX Racing with Riders Club beat Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team to fourth position followed by TONE RT Syncedge 4413 BMW and Wójcik Racing Team, which includes Gino Rea in its line-up. Team Tatara Aprilia and points-leading National Motos Honda FMA were next with Edwin Gesundheit Racing rounding out the top 10.
The 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race is counting for the FIM Endurance World Cup for the first time, thereby giving European Superstock teams the chance to contest one of international motorcycle racing’s most iconic events. They’re benefiting from a tyre support package offered jointly by FIM Endurance World Championship promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and Dunlop, the official tyre supplier to the Superstock category. Through the arrangement, 10 sets of tyres are being provided free of charge to each European Superstock team contesting the third event of the EWC season. National Motos Honda FMA, Team Étoile and Wójcik Racing Team are the beneficiaries of this incentive.
More, from a press release issued by HRC:
Team HRC with Japan Post Qualifies Third
Johann Zarco (30). Photo courtesy HRC.
On July 19 (Fri), Team HRC with Japan Post was third in qualifying for the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Road Race (Suzuka 8 Hours) 45th Annual Event.
Free practice was held from 8:30 to 10:30 in the morning, followed by the first 20-minute qualifying sessions for the blue, yellow, and red riders from 12:05 pm.
Qualifying for the EWC is determined by the average lap times of the two fastest riders from each team. Based on the results of today’s two qualifying sessions, two riders from the top 10 teams will compete in the Top 10 Trials on Saturday, determining the grid for positions from 1 through 10. The grid for positions 11 and lower reflect the results of today’s qualifying sessions.
Free practice was repeatedly red-flagged and restarted due to a crashes. The session was finally stopped due to a crashed bike on the hairpin just off-track, with 6 minutes remaining in scheduled time.
Team HRC with Japan Post (Takumi Takahashi / Teppei Nagoe / Johann Zarco) set the fastest lap in free practice of 2 min 6.238s, followed by Team ATJ with docomo business (Satoru Iwata / Kouki Suzuki / Yuta Okaya) in 4th position with 2 min 7.143s, TOHO Racing (Ryuichi Kiyonari / Kazuki Watanabe/ Ikuhiro Enokido) 5th with 2 min 7.162s, SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda (Yuki Kunii / Naomichi Uramoto / Mario Aji) 6th with 2 min 7.304 sec. and Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing (Kohta Nozane / Kisuke Sakumoto / Taiga Hada) 9th with 2 min 7.391 sec.
For Team HRC with Japan Post, Takahashi’s best lap was 2 min.7.567s, Nagoe’s was 2 min 6.390s, and Zarco’s was 2 min 6.238s.
Team manager Teruaki Matsubara said, “We confirmed the base settings, then Nagoe and Zarco prepared for qualifying, and Takahashi worked on the race set-up.”
In the first qualifying session, the blue riders entered the course first, but one rider crashed in the early stage. SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Aji and Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Nozane collided and crashed at the hairpin, causing a red flag. Aji required a medical examination following the accident. By the end of the session, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Takumi Takahashi was 4th 2 min 6.381s.
The yellow riders were next on track. Although the session was red-flagged due to a crash, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Johann Zarco set the second fastest time of 2 min 6.084s. Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Hada was 3rd with 2 min 6.743s, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Uramoto was 4th with 2 min 6.772s, and Alain Techer for F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Mike Di Meglio / Alan Techer) was 6th with 2 min 7.529s. Andi Farid Izdihar for Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo (Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi / Andi Farid Izdihar / Nakarin Atiratphuvapat) was 10th with 2 min 8.017s.
In the red rider qualifying session, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Kunii took an early lead with a 2 min 5.942s lap. Team HRC with Japan Post’s Teppei Nagoe then rose to 3rd, setting 2 min 5.980s on the following lap, but returned to the pits in 3rd. At the end of the session, Kunii was 2nd, Nagoe 3rd, and F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s Techer was 5th with 2 min 7.090s.
Track temperature during the first qualifying session was 58℃, but in the second qualifying session, dropped to 40℃. Teams were expected to try and improve their lap times on the cooler track, and attention turned to what lap times they could set.
The blue riders entered the track to start the second qualifying session. Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Nozane set a time in the 2 min 5s range, and was 2nd fastest with 2 min 5.923s. Team ATJ with docomo business’ Iwata was 4th with 2 min 7.213s.
In the yellow riders’ second qualifying session, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Hada topped the leaderboard with a 2 min 6.507s lap, followed by Team HRC with Japan Post’s Zarco 3rd with 2 min 6.795s. In the red riders’ second session, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Nagoe was 6th with 2 min 7.574s.
Once all qualifying sessions were complete, the averages of the top two riders for each team were officially calculated. Team HRC with Japan Post was 3rd, followed by Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing 5th, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda 6th, F.C.C. TSR Honda France 9th, Honda DREAM RT Sakurai Honda (Kazuki Ito / Daijiro Hiura) 10th, TOHO Racing 11th, Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo 13th, and Team ATJ with docomo business 14th. Tomorrow’s Top 10 Trial will determine the top 10 grid positions.
After the qualifying results, team manager Matsubara said, “Each of our three riders rode their first qualifying sessions on new tires. We knew that the track temperature would drop during the second qualifying session, so in this session our riders prepared for the race in their first hot laps as the track temperature would be close to race conditions. Qualifying was fruitful, as our goal was to be in the top 10, which they accomplished, and they also verified the bike’s feel. Other Honda teams are also improving their times, so we will concentrate in the Top 10 Trial tomorrow and the race on Sunday.”
Takumi Takahashi 30
The red flag came out just as I attempted a hot lap, so I could not increase my pace. However, I was able to set times in the low 2 min 6s range, and I am happy that I was able to stay in the top 10 and further prepare for the race. I am not worried because, Nagoe, Zarco and I all have more than enough energy. I don’t know who from our team will ride in the Top 10 Trial, but I don’t have to participate in it if the other two want to. I will leave it up to the team.
Teppei Nagoe 30
I saw many red flags early in the blue and yellow qualifying sessions, so I decided to attack with 10 minutes remaining and concentrate on two laps. I was aiming for the mid 2 min 5s range, but unfortunately it was just barely in the 5s range. To be honest, I am disappointed to lose to SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda who race in the All-Japan championship, but I am confident that I can set good times and I am happy that I’m in the top 10. I would like to ride in the Trial because I haven’t before, and last year I I could not race due to illness. It is a rare opportunity for people from all over the world to see me race, so I would like to be selected.
Johann Zarco 30
I am getting more and more accustomed to the Suzuka Circuit and I feel that I am setting consistent times for the race. In qualifying, the number of tires was limited, so I had to share them with my teammates, which limited the timing of my hot laps. It was a shame that just when I went out on new tires, the red flag came out and I couldn’t find the right timing. As for the team, I’m glad that we were able be in the top 10. The team decides who will race in the Top 10 trial, so I am not sure if I will be selected, but I am willing to give it a try. As an athlete, if I can challenge myself, then of course I want to race.
Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa, Joshua Raymond, Jr., and Eli Banish qualified sixth, 15th, and 17th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Friday at Brands Hatch.
Irwin fires to the top of incredibly close Free Practice at Brands Hatch
Glenn Irwin fired the Hager PBM Ducati to the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice times, saving his best for last in a hectic final lap to top the times by just 0.131s as five manufacturers featured inside the top six ahead of tomorrow’s opening race at Brands Hatch.
The competition was fierce in Free Practice and after the opening session the top 13 riders were covered by just 0.895s, but that intensified further in the afternoon with just 0.993s separating the top 17 contenders.
Irwin’s flying lap wasn’t without moments including touching the grass at Stirlings, but he managed to hold off his nemesis Tommy Bridewell as the pair prepare to go head-to-head on the Grand Prix circuit tomorrow for the first time since their epic title fight last October.
Ryan Vickers had topped the morning session and the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider claimed third place, just 0.013s ahead of Leon Haslam for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team with Danny Kent completing the top five.
Jason O’Halloran made it five manufacturers inside the top six on the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki with Andrew Irwin making it two Honda Racing UK contenders in the top eight.
Christian Iddon and Lee Jackson were separated by just 0.003s as Josh Brookes and Peter Hickman held tenth and eleventh positions. Charlie Nesbitt claimed the final position of the riders who progress directly into Speedy Hire Qualifying 2 tomorrow.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, combined Free Practice times:
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 1m:25.853s
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.131s
Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +0.144s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +0.157s
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.228s
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +0.336s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.352s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.363s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +0.366s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +0.457s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +0.457s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +0.536s
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Glenn Irwin
Hager PBM Ducati
“It has been a good day and lovely to be back at Brands Hatch as it is a place I have a lot of special memories at. It wasn’t long ago we took part in one of the best days of my racing career and the atmosphere at the finale and winning races last year was fantastic.
“There has been a lot of work done by the boys today; we were not far off in the first session but I wasn’t happy with the feeling. They worked hard before FP2 and immediately we had a better feeling at the start of the session.
“We had a little go on the final run and I ran really wide at turn two and I thought ‘flip sake this is your last lap Glenn just get your finger out’ and then the green light came on after Graham Hill so I thought let’s have a bit of a go.
“It was all going so good and then I got Stirling the best I have got it in terms of entry and apex, but was a bit greedy on the gas and I was onto the grass on the exit and having to roll off so I was really surprised to be fastest.
“I always like taking part in event when there are such small margins and with the top 17 covered by less than a second it shows the level of BSB. I am excited for the weekend and I just want to win races and that Monster Energy King of Brands trophy!”
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed his second Supersport Superpole of the season with a new lap record at Most. The Italian, also the pole sitter at Misano, has been in great form this year and will start tomorrow’s 19 lap race hoping to stop the run of four consecutive wins for Huertas
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was over one tenth of a second slower than Montella’s lap record pace
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) once again lead the Yamaha charge. For Manzi it will be his fifth consecutive front row start
Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) registered his best qualifying performance of the season in sixth position. The MV Agusta rider is one of three riders from the Italian manufacturer inside the top ten
More on worldsbk.com
P1 | Yari Montella | Barni Spark Racing Team
“It was a good day for sure. It was strange because in the morning I didn’t feel comfortable with the rear tyre. We were able to work hard during the sessions, and find a good solution to this problem. I believed we had the speed for pole position. We fought for the pole position with Huertas and tomorrow I expect it will be the same as in Donington and Misano against him. I have good pace and I feel good with the bike. We’ll try to do our best in Race 1.”
TITANIC TRIO RETURNS: familiar faces, new colours as Razgatlioglu leads Bautista and Rea on Friday at Most
Four manufacturers were in the top four on Friday at Most with plenty to dissect from the two practice sessions
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was once again the rider to beat in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as the #54 just beat Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) by a tenth at the Autodrom Most. Razgatlioglu and Bautista were the only two riders inside the 1’31s bracket on the first day of the Czech Round.
RAZGATLIOGLU ON TOP: leading the away again
Razgatlioglu continued exactly how he started the weekend by posting an uncatchable lap time in FP2, posting a 1’31.519s, almost four tenths quicker than he went in the morning and once again leading BMW’s charge. Teammate Michael van der Mark was one of two more BMW riders inside the top ten as he claimed eighth, just ahead of Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth with only 0.030s separating the pair. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) improved on his final lap to move into 13th place.
BAUTISTA’S BEST FRIDAY OF 2024? second place, just a tenth behind…
Reigning Champion Bautista claimed second place after posting a 1’31.622s with him and Razgatlioglu the only two riders in the 1’31s bracket. Teammate Nicolo Bulega (was fifth, half-a-second down on Razgatlioglu and four tenths away from the #1. Independent star Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) made it three Ducatis in the top six as he claimed sixth with a 1’32.110s, just a tenth away from Bulega ahead. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) had a difficult Friday morning with several off-track excursions, but he bounced back in the afternoon for P10, just a couple of hundredths ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in 11th in FP2 and 12th overall. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) had a really challenging Friday afternoon with the #21 not setting a lap time with his bike only running on two cylinders. However, his FP1 time of 1’32.800s was good enough for 10th in that session and 17th overall.
STRONG FRIDAY FOR REA: third place and top Yamaha
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) seems to have been able to continue with the momentum he built at Donington as he finished third on Friday after setting a 1’32.033s. The #65 was the lead Yamaha rider once again, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in seventh. Gardner was one of a handful of riders unable to improve in the afternoon’s warmer conditions but his 1’32.233s from FP1 still secured a spot in the top seven. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) completed the top ten after ‘Loka’ had a crash at Turn 2 in FP2, but he was able to post a 1’32.369s to secure a top ten spot. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 14th, Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was 19th and Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) 21st.
LOWES IN FOURTH: four manufacturers in the top four
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the lead Kawasaki rider once again as he secured fourth place with a 1’32.052s, just a couple of hundredths away from Rea in front. The #22’s P4 means four different manufacturers secured a place in the top four. Teammate Axel Bassani was quick out of the blocks in FP1 and FP2 but fell down the order to 15th, while Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completed the Kawasaki runners with 18th place.
GOOD MORNING, DIFFICULT AFTERNOON: mixed day for Honda
Honda had a good Friday morning but neither Team HRC could improve in the afternoon. Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge were, as always, closely matched with just half-a-tenth between the two Spaniards. Vierge’s day was disrupted by a technical issue in FP2. Leandro Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was the fastest of the MIE Honda riders after setting a 1’34.344s, finishing around four tenths clear of teammate Hayden Gillim, who, on his first visit to Most, had a solid start to his debut WorldSBK weekend.
The top six from WorldSBK’s Friday action, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’31.519s
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.103s
3. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.514s
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.533s
5. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.552s
6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.591s
Yari Montella was quickest in World Supersport Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Autodrom Most, in the Czech Republic. Riding his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian lapped the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) course in 1:34.882 to lead the field of 33 riders.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was second-best with a 1:35.042 on his Evan Bros. Yamaha YZF-R6.
Valentin Debise (53). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Stefano Manzi was third-fastest with a 1:25.165 on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing machine.
The 2021 Champion was unbeatable at Donington, and he’s started the Czech Round in the same fashion with the fastest FP1 time
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) continued where he left Donington last weekend by topping Free Practice 1 at the Autodrom Most. The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has travelled east to the Czech Republic for Round 6 of the 2024 season and the Turkish superstar’s form has continued as he lapped almost three tenths quicker than his rivals as the Czech Round got underway.
Razgatlioglu initially went for an out lap before returning to the pits for a while, eventually setting a lap time later than his rivals. However, his delayed start to his hot laps didn’t prevent him from immediately going fastest. The #54 was straight into the 1’32s before setting a 1’31.947s around halfway through the 45-minute Free Practice 1 session. Straight away, he was six tenths clear of his rivals, although the gap did close slightly as the session progressed. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) claimed second as he continued to be the lead Yamaha rider, lapping just under three tenths slower than the 2021 Champion, while Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third as he had a strong start to his weekend.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who started the weekend in a good way, often being in the top three but finishing in fourth. He set a 1’32.362s to finish 0.415s behind Razgatlioglu as he finished as the top Independent rider. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) continued his Donington form in FP1 as he claimed fifth, just 0.003s behind Petrucci, while Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) completed the top six finishing exactly a tenth behind the #45.
Seventh place belonged to Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) as he posted a 1’32.507s, 0.031s clear of Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in eighth. After admitting on Thursday that he was expecting a tough weekend, it’ll give Honda confidence after a decent start to the weekend with Lecuona in P8 and Xavi Vierge just outside the top ten. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the lead Kawasaki rider in ninth with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) rounding out the top ten.
The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’31.947s
A scene from a previous Bennetts British Superbike event at Brands Hatch. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa, Joshua Raymond, Jr., and Eli Banish finished fifth, 11th, and 16th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Race One Saturday at Brands Hatch.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Vickers victorious as podium battle goes down to the wire at Brands Hatch
The start of British Superbike Race One Saturday at Brands Hatch. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Ryan Vickers was unstoppable in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Brands Hatch as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider delivered an inch-perfect performance, whilst behind the battle for the final podium positions was a four-way fight.
At the start, Vickers immediately hit the front of the pack into Paddock Hill Bend ahead of Danny Kent, Glenn Irwin, Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell. However, the fight at the front was short lived for Kent when he crashed out of second place on the third lap at Stirlings.
Vickers set an incredible pace to break the pack to return to the top step of the podium for the first time since the season opener at Circuito de Navarra, celebrating his third victory of the year to get his title campaign firmly back on track.
There was a four-way tussle for the final podium positions with Hager PBM Ducati’s Glenn Irwin initially leading Bridewell, Iddon and Leon Haslam, but Andrew Irwin was on the move in the second half of the race and he dispensed with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team rider ahead of him.
On lap seven, Bridewell made his move on Glenn Irwin at Stirlings as the arch rivals continued their intense rivalry and the pair switched places again at Hawthorns on lap 13 when the Ducati contender moved back ahead.
Iddon was next to strike and he attacked Bridewell at Paddock Hill Bend, but the reigning champion instantly fought back to regain the position with a move at Stirlings on lap 14.
A lap later and Glenn Irwin was holding second from Bridewell as Andrew Irwin moved ahead of Iddon with a dive down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend. Whilst Bridewell surged ahead of Glenn Irwin at Stirlings before his rival recaptured the position before Clearways.
Bridewell wasn’t done and he made another move on the Hager PBM Ducati rider to take an emotional second place on the anniversary of losing his brother Ollie, meanwhile Andrew Irwin was also able to pass Glenn Irwin with five laps to go.
Bridewell and Andrew Irwin made it a double podium celebration for Honda Racing UK as they continue their resurgence after a tough season last year, relegating Glenn Irwin to fourth ahead of Iddon.
Glenn Irwin and Bridewell now head into tomorrow’s two races equal on points at the top of the standings.
Haslam held off the fight from Kyle Ryde for sixth place with Lee Jackson, Jason O’Halloran and Danny Buchan completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1 result:
Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing)
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +7.334s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +7.520s
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +8.678s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +9.095s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.708s
Kyle Ryde ( OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +11.297s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +14.822s
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +14.862s
Danny Buchan (DAO Racing Kawasaki) +16.352s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 189
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 189
hristian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 167
Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 157
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 147
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 115
Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 110
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 105
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 85
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 85
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Ryan Vickers
OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha
“That was an amazing race. Amazing start. An amazing weekend, really. Thanks again to OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing.
“We’ve had a couple of bad rounds, some our own fault and others out of our control so thanks to their belief in me, they’ve believed in what I’ve been saying about the bike, and we’ve made considerable changes for this round. I just want to deliver what I know is possible and what everyone deserves, and we did that today.
“We got out front, set some good lap times and I believe I was setting the fastest lap of the race. So I just tried to keep that pace, got in a rhythm, hit my markers and the bike was hitting the apexes.
“I used my head, kept fully focused and didn’t really slow down much. I backed off in a couple of areas where it was closer to the limit just to be a little bit safe, but I am happy to be in the 1m:25s pretty much every lap of the race.
“The improvement to this time last year is incredible and that’s just down to a load of hard work from me and the team. We’re really showing people what we can do and it’s nice to be back at the front.”
Adrian Huertas continued his and the Ducati V2’s domination in World Supersport by winning Race One at Autodrom Most. Frenchman and past MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Valentin Debise finished second on an Evan Brothers Yamaha, 3.758 seconds behind Huertas, and Pata Yamaha’s Stefani Manzi finished third, 0.134-second behind Debise and 0.834-second ahead of Yari Montella on another Ducati V2.
Huertas extends championship leads with Race 1 win
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) led the opening lap before ceding the lead to Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) on lap 2 before Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) came through on lap 3 to lead until the end of the opening race of the weekend for WorldSSP
Huertas continued his incredible form that has seen him win six of the last seven races in the class. The Ducati rider took advantage of the fight behind him to eventually lead by over three seconds. He’ll start tomorrow from the front row of the grid after setting the third fastest lap of the race
Stefano Manzi will start Race 2 from pole position after the Yamaha man broke the lap record in Race 1. His podium, his seventh of the campaign, was hard fought after a race long battle with Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) and Montella
Montella now drops 37 points adrift of Huertas in the championship standings having finished off the podium for the first time since Round 3 at the Dutch Round
Key Points:
Pole position: Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)
Race 1 winner: Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
Race fastest lap: Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 1’34.834s (New race lap record)
More on worldsbk.com
P1 | Adrian Huertas | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“It was a positive race for me because in the beginning I needed to battle. I was intelligent in the early laps and I knew the areas of the track where I had an advantage. It was really important to make a gap and then start to increase it step by step without making mistakes. Now we have important information for tomorrow and I think we can make more steps to improve the bike for Race 2. The most important is that we won today, and that we are first in the Championship standings.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at Autodrom Most, in the Czech Republic. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR on Pirelli control tires, the former World Champion won the 22-lap race by 5.740 seconds.
Italian Danilo Petrucci was the runner-up on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4 R, just 0.141 second ahead of Team GoEleven Ducati’s Andrea Iannone.
American Garrett Gerloff took eighth on his Bonovo Action BMW.
MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Hayden Gillim, who is competing as a fill-in rider for PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda, finished 21st.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) smashed the lap record during the 15 minute Superpole session. His time, 1’30.064, left him comfortably on pole position for the fourth time this season
A third front row of the season was Andrea Iannone’s reward for a superb effort in Superpole. The Team GoEleven rider matched his best qualifying performance of the season in second position
A three place grid penalty dropped Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to tenth position for Race 1. The double World Champion ended Superpole 0.953s slower than Razgatlioglu. His teammate, Nicolo Bulega, qualified off the front row of the grid for the first time in 2024
Race 1 Highlights
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made it eight wins in a row after dominating the 22 lap race. With a winning margin of over five seconds it was a comfortable success for the Turkish star who now leads the championship by 56 points from Bulega
From the second row of the grid Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) came through to finish second. The Italian matched his career best performance in the Superbike class and claimed his second podium of the season
Having opted for the harder front tyre, Iannone rounded out the podium positions. The Italian dropped from second position to fourth position at one third distance but made his way back to the podium
Having started from the second row of the grid Bulega also opted for the harder front tyre. He had a difficult race and ended in sixth position but held on to second position in the championship standings
Having suffered a grid penalty, Bautista spent the majority of the race in sixth position before making progress in the final seven laps. He first picked off his teammate Bulega on Lap 14 and then Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) with four laps remaining
Key Points:
Pole position: Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
Race 1 winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu
Race fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu 1’31.540sMore on worldsbk.com
P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“I’m happy. We have won again and we had an amazing lap time in the Superpole session. I pushed a lot on the first lap and then I just found my rhythm. I had a very good pace in the race but during the the last five laps the front was closing, especially on the left corner. After last year, when I crashed at corner two, it’s an incredible win. I want to say thanks to my team because we did an incredible job today! We have two more races tomorrow, and that’s my focus now.”
P2 | Danilo Petrucci | Barni Spark Racing Team
“I’m really happy. I said that we could fight for the podium but when you are in the race you have to fight really hard to get that podium. At the beginning, I had a bit of trouble but then I saw that Nicolo and Andrea were a bit slower going into the corners and I tried to go ahead of them. Andrea gave me a hard time until the end. I know him very well and on the last lap it is always special with him! I tried to close the doors on that lap. I can’t believe I’m here after my motocross accident and now I’m again on the podium! I want to say thanks to everyone who helped me and we’ll try again tomorrow!”
P3 | Andrea Iannone | Team GoEleven
“I’m really happy about today because we recovered a lot from yesterday. After FP1, we were 15th in the classification. My team believed in me and I want to thank them for believing we can achieve a great result today. It was a really difficult race because the temperature was really high. With Danilo in front it made it difficult for my tyre temperature and it wasn’t easy in the braking points for corners. Danilo rode faster than me today, Toprak was unbelievable but I didn’t give up and I tried my best. We’ll try a little more tomorrow!”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) continued his recent run of success Saturday at Autodrom Most. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Toprak Razgatlioglu earned pole position during FIM Superbike World Championship Superpole qualifying Saturday at Autodrom Most, in the Czech Republic.
Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR on Pirelli control tires, the Turkish star lapped the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) course in 1:30.064. Not only was that fast enough to top the field of 23 riders, it was also fast enough to surpass Razgatlioglu’s own All-Time Lap Record of 1:30.719, which he set earlier in the day in Free Practice Three.
Andrea Iannone was second-fastest and the top Independent Team qualifier with a 1:30.729 on his Team GoEleven Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Alex Lowes claimed the third and final spot on the front row by lapping the course in 1:30.758 on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR.
American Garrett Gerloff stepped up big on Saturday and qualified eighth overall — and the second-best BMW rider — at 1:31.082 on his Bonovo Action BMW.
American Hayden Gillim, competing as a fill-in rider for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda team, qualified 23rd in the 23-rider field with a 1:33.756 in his first-ever event with the team, on Pirelli tires, and at Autodrom Most.
Marvin Fritz (1) at speed on the Yamalube Yamaha YZF-R1. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
Yamalube YART Yamaha’s Niccolo Canepa, Marvin Fritz, and Karel Hanika captured pole position for the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hours race in Japan.
During the Top 10 Trial (a.k.a. Superpole) qualifying session Saturday, Yamalube YART Yamaha’s Marvin Fritz recorded a 2:05.130 around the famed 3.6-mile (5.8 km) road course on his Bridgestone-shod YZF-R1 to top the field.
Ducati Team Kagayama (Ryo Mizuno/Hafizh Syahrin/Josh Waters) was second-best with a 2:05.248 on their Panigale V4 R.
Team HRC with Japan Post (Teppei Nagoe/Takumi Takahashi/Johann Zarco) was third with a time of 2:05.531 on their Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
YART YAMAHA WINS TOP 10 TRIAL TO CLAIM EWC SUZUKA 8 HOURS POLE
*Reigning EWC champion team set to start iconic FIM Endurance World Championship race in first
*Ducati Team Kagayama second for maiden Suzuka appearance following new-for-2024 alliance
*MotoGP star Johann Zarco helps Team HRC to third place in action-packed showdown
Yamalube YART Yamaha’s Marvin Fritz (1) finishing his Top 10 Trial qualifying lap at Suzuka. Photo courtesy FIM EWC.
For immediate release (20 July 2024): Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team will start Sunday’s 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race from pole position after its dramatic victory in the Top 10 Trial, which sets the first 10 positions on the starting grid for Japan’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship.
Marvin Fritz’s flying lap of 2m05.130s proved decisive after team-mate Karel Hanika crashed during his Top 10 Trial run. The German rider’s effort means YART, which also includes Niccolò Canepa in its line-up, can celebrate three pole positions out of three in this season’s EWC with the five points scored putting it ahead of Yoshimura SERT Motul in the race to win the 2024 EWC title.
It was also Yamaha’s first Top 10 Trial success since Yamaha Factory Team triumphed in 2017 and came after YART had finished ahead in the combined qualifying classification after Friday’s running.
Ducati Team Kagayama, consisting of Ryo Mizuno, Hafizh Syahrin and Josh Waters, completed the Top 10 Trial in second position followed by Honda-powered Team HRC with Japan Post, which is chasing a third consecutive victory in its home round of the EWC with riders Teppei Nagoe, Takumi Takahashi and MotoGP race winner Johann Zarco.
Having failed to progress to the Top 10 Trial in 2023, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team claimed a fine fourth as Suzuki-powered Yoshimura SERT Motul rounded out the top five.
With the Top 10 Trial reserved for the 10 fastest teams according to Friday’s combined qualifying classification, the Dunlop-supplied Superstock squads – led by pole-sitting Teramoto@J-Trip Racing – were able to spend Saturday afternoon completing their preparations for Sunday’s eight-hour race.
Although F.C.C. TSR Honda France reached the Top 10 Trial – one of four permanent EWC teams to do so – Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, KM 99, Motobox Kremer Racing and Tati Team Beringer Racing could instead reflect on encouraging performances during Friday’s running. KM 99 qualified 15th, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar 18th, Tati Team Beringer Racing 31st and Motobox Kremer Racing 43rd.
YAMAHA-POWERED FRITZ REFLECTS ON FLYING LAP
“It was an amazing lap,” 31-year-old Marvin Fritz said. “At Spa I got the lap record but normally here at Suzuka Karel and Niccolò are a bit faster. But since last year I’ve got a really good feeling, especially in the third sector where I always struggled but it’s my favourite now. The bike was perfect, we work together like we all are a big family, and this is why we are always fast, all three of us. We were celebrating before Karel crashed because we knew the pole was sure, but we were happy when we saw he was standing up and fine. The bike was damaged, but the race bike is ready and we feel comfortable and confident. The main focus in the race is to gain points in the championship. Of course a win would be nice but it’s important to have good points going to the Bol d’Or [season finale].”
Of his high-speed crash in the Top 10 Trial, Hanika said: “I just tried my maximum performance, my 100 per cent and it didn’t work out. Yamaha gave us a perfect machine for this kind of session where only one lap matters. I did my best ever first sector but to be able to go under 2m05s I had to keep going like this and I just carried too much corner speed into Turn 7. Unfortunately, I lost the front and I’m really sorry for this but the most important is Marvin could manage an amazing lap, super-smooth and super-clean, which gave us the five points for the championship.”
Ryo Mizuno, who was fastest in both Blue Rider qualifying sessions on Friday, said: “I was aiming for the pole position so I’m not so super-satisfied but with the second position we did really well. The team did a really good performance and I’m very pleased how we brought everything together. Tomorrow is the day and tonight we’ll have further meetings to plan everything for tomorrow.”
MOTOGP STAR ZARCO SAVOURS TOP 10 TRIAL
Johann Zarco will start his first Suzuka 8 Hours – and his first EWC race – in third position alongside Team HRC with Japan Post team-mates Teppei Nagoe and Takumi Takahashi. After joining Takahashi in the Top 10 Trial, the French MotoGP star said: “It was special and I like it. You feel a different stress in MotoGP but I’m pretty happy I did this experience and also I did an improvement compared to yesterday and that’s important.”
TERAMOTO@J-TRIP RACING STORMS TO SUPERSTOCK POLE
Japan-based Teramoto@J-Trip Racing was the talk of the Dunlop-supplied Superstock contingent by claiming pole position for round three of the FIM Endurance World Cup. The Suzuki-equipped outfit, featuring riders Takeshi Ishizuka, an EWC regular, Takeru Murase and Koji Teramoto, excelled during qualifying for the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race to bank first place in class ahead of Team Étoile and Taira Promote Racing. NCXX Racing with Riders Club beat Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team to fourth position followed by TONE RT Syncedge 4413 BMW and Wójcik Racing Team, which includes Gino Rea in its line-up. Team Tatara Aprilia and points-leading National Motos Honda FMA were next with Edwin Gesundheit Racing rounding out the top 10.
The 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race is counting for the FIM Endurance World Cup for the first time, thereby giving European Superstock teams the chance to contest one of international motorcycle racing’s most iconic events. They’re benefiting from a tyre support package offered jointly by FIM Endurance World Championship promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and Dunlop, the official tyre supplier to the Superstock category. Through the arrangement, 10 sets of tyres are being provided free of charge to each European Superstock team contesting the third event of the EWC season. National Motos Honda FMA, Team Étoile and Wójcik Racing Team are the beneficiaries of this incentive.
More, from a press release issued by HRC:
Team HRC with Japan Post Qualifies Third
Johann Zarco (30). Photo courtesy HRC.
On July 19 (Fri), Team HRC with Japan Post was third in qualifying for the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Road Race (Suzuka 8 Hours) 45th Annual Event.
Free practice was held from 8:30 to 10:30 in the morning, followed by the first 20-minute qualifying sessions for the blue, yellow, and red riders from 12:05 pm.
Qualifying for the EWC is determined by the average lap times of the two fastest riders from each team. Based on the results of today’s two qualifying sessions, two riders from the top 10 teams will compete in the Top 10 Trials on Saturday, determining the grid for positions from 1 through 10. The grid for positions 11 and lower reflect the results of today’s qualifying sessions.
Free practice was repeatedly red-flagged and restarted due to a crashes. The session was finally stopped due to a crashed bike on the hairpin just off-track, with 6 minutes remaining in scheduled time.
Team HRC with Japan Post (Takumi Takahashi / Teppei Nagoe / Johann Zarco) set the fastest lap in free practice of 2 min 6.238s, followed by Team ATJ with docomo business (Satoru Iwata / Kouki Suzuki / Yuta Okaya) in 4th position with 2 min 7.143s, TOHO Racing (Ryuichi Kiyonari / Kazuki Watanabe/ Ikuhiro Enokido) 5th with 2 min 7.162s, SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda (Yuki Kunii / Naomichi Uramoto / Mario Aji) 6th with 2 min 7.304 sec. and Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing (Kohta Nozane / Kisuke Sakumoto / Taiga Hada) 9th with 2 min 7.391 sec.
For Team HRC with Japan Post, Takahashi’s best lap was 2 min.7.567s, Nagoe’s was 2 min 6.390s, and Zarco’s was 2 min 6.238s.
Team manager Teruaki Matsubara said, “We confirmed the base settings, then Nagoe and Zarco prepared for qualifying, and Takahashi worked on the race set-up.”
In the first qualifying session, the blue riders entered the course first, but one rider crashed in the early stage. SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Aji and Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Nozane collided and crashed at the hairpin, causing a red flag. Aji required a medical examination following the accident. By the end of the session, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Takumi Takahashi was 4th 2 min 6.381s.
The yellow riders were next on track. Although the session was red-flagged due to a crash, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Johann Zarco set the second fastest time of 2 min 6.084s. Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Hada was 3rd with 2 min 6.743s, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Uramoto was 4th with 2 min 6.772s, and Alain Techer for F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Mike Di Meglio / Alan Techer) was 6th with 2 min 7.529s. Andi Farid Izdihar for Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo (Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi / Andi Farid Izdihar / Nakarin Atiratphuvapat) was 10th with 2 min 8.017s.
In the red rider qualifying session, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Kunii took an early lead with a 2 min 5.942s lap. Team HRC with Japan Post’s Teppei Nagoe then rose to 3rd, setting 2 min 5.980s on the following lap, but returned to the pits in 3rd. At the end of the session, Kunii was 2nd, Nagoe 3rd, and F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s Techer was 5th with 2 min 7.090s.
Track temperature during the first qualifying session was 58℃, but in the second qualifying session, dropped to 40℃. Teams were expected to try and improve their lap times on the cooler track, and attention turned to what lap times they could set.
The blue riders entered the track to start the second qualifying session. Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Nozane set a time in the 2 min 5s range, and was 2nd fastest with 2 min 5.923s. Team ATJ with docomo business’ Iwata was 4th with 2 min 7.213s.
In the yellow riders’ second qualifying session, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Hada topped the leaderboard with a 2 min 6.507s lap, followed by Team HRC with Japan Post’s Zarco 3rd with 2 min 6.795s. In the red riders’ second session, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Nagoe was 6th with 2 min 7.574s.
Once all qualifying sessions were complete, the averages of the top two riders for each team were officially calculated. Team HRC with Japan Post was 3rd, followed by Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing 5th, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda 6th, F.C.C. TSR Honda France 9th, Honda DREAM RT Sakurai Honda (Kazuki Ito / Daijiro Hiura) 10th, TOHO Racing 11th, Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo 13th, and Team ATJ with docomo business 14th. Tomorrow’s Top 10 Trial will determine the top 10 grid positions.
After the qualifying results, team manager Matsubara said, “Each of our three riders rode their first qualifying sessions on new tires. We knew that the track temperature would drop during the second qualifying session, so in this session our riders prepared for the race in their first hot laps as the track temperature would be close to race conditions. Qualifying was fruitful, as our goal was to be in the top 10, which they accomplished, and they also verified the bike’s feel. Other Honda teams are also improving their times, so we will concentrate in the Top 10 Trial tomorrow and the race on Sunday.”
Takumi Takahashi 30
The red flag came out just as I attempted a hot lap, so I could not increase my pace. However, I was able to set times in the low 2 min 6s range, and I am happy that I was able to stay in the top 10 and further prepare for the race. I am not worried because, Nagoe, Zarco and I all have more than enough energy. I don’t know who from our team will ride in the Top 10 Trial, but I don’t have to participate in it if the other two want to. I will leave it up to the team.
Teppei Nagoe 30
I saw many red flags early in the blue and yellow qualifying sessions, so I decided to attack with 10 minutes remaining and concentrate on two laps. I was aiming for the mid 2 min 5s range, but unfortunately it was just barely in the 5s range. To be honest, I am disappointed to lose to SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda who race in the All-Japan championship, but I am confident that I can set good times and I am happy that I’m in the top 10. I would like to ride in the Trial because I haven’t before, and last year I I could not race due to illness. It is a rare opportunity for people from all over the world to see me race, so I would like to be selected.
Johann Zarco 30
I am getting more and more accustomed to the Suzuka Circuit and I feel that I am setting consistent times for the race. In qualifying, the number of tires was limited, so I had to share them with my teammates, which limited the timing of my hot laps. It was a shame that just when I went out on new tires, the red flag came out and I couldn’t find the right timing. As for the team, I’m glad that we were able be in the top 10. The team decides who will race in the Top 10 trial, so I am not sure if I will be selected, but I am willing to give it a try. As an athlete, if I can challenge myself, then of course I want to race.
Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa, Joshua Raymond, Jr., and Eli Banish qualified sixth, 15th, and 17th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Friday at Brands Hatch.
Irwin fires to the top of incredibly close Free Practice at Brands Hatch
Glenn Irwin fired the Hager PBM Ducati to the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice times, saving his best for last in a hectic final lap to top the times by just 0.131s as five manufacturers featured inside the top six ahead of tomorrow’s opening race at Brands Hatch.
The competition was fierce in Free Practice and after the opening session the top 13 riders were covered by just 0.895s, but that intensified further in the afternoon with just 0.993s separating the top 17 contenders.
Irwin’s flying lap wasn’t without moments including touching the grass at Stirlings, but he managed to hold off his nemesis Tommy Bridewell as the pair prepare to go head-to-head on the Grand Prix circuit tomorrow for the first time since their epic title fight last October.
Ryan Vickers had topped the morning session and the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider claimed third place, just 0.013s ahead of Leon Haslam for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team with Danny Kent completing the top five.
Jason O’Halloran made it five manufacturers inside the top six on the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki with Andrew Irwin making it two Honda Racing UK contenders in the top eight.
Christian Iddon and Lee Jackson were separated by just 0.003s as Josh Brookes and Peter Hickman held tenth and eleventh positions. Charlie Nesbitt claimed the final position of the riders who progress directly into Speedy Hire Qualifying 2 tomorrow.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, combined Free Practice times:
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 1m:25.853s
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.131s
Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +0.144s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +0.157s
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.228s
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +0.336s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.352s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.363s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +0.366s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +0.457s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +0.457s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +0.536s
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Glenn Irwin
Hager PBM Ducati
“It has been a good day and lovely to be back at Brands Hatch as it is a place I have a lot of special memories at. It wasn’t long ago we took part in one of the best days of my racing career and the atmosphere at the finale and winning races last year was fantastic.
“There has been a lot of work done by the boys today; we were not far off in the first session but I wasn’t happy with the feeling. They worked hard before FP2 and immediately we had a better feeling at the start of the session.
“We had a little go on the final run and I ran really wide at turn two and I thought ‘flip sake this is your last lap Glenn just get your finger out’ and then the green light came on after Graham Hill so I thought let’s have a bit of a go.
“It was all going so good and then I got Stirling the best I have got it in terms of entry and apex, but was a bit greedy on the gas and I was onto the grass on the exit and having to roll off so I was really surprised to be fastest.
“I always like taking part in event when there are such small margins and with the top 17 covered by less than a second it shows the level of BSB. I am excited for the weekend and I just want to win races and that Monster Energy King of Brands trophy!”
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed his second Supersport Superpole of the season with a new lap record at Most. The Italian, also the pole sitter at Misano, has been in great form this year and will start tomorrow’s 19 lap race hoping to stop the run of four consecutive wins for Huertas
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was over one tenth of a second slower than Montella’s lap record pace
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) once again lead the Yamaha charge. For Manzi it will be his fifth consecutive front row start
Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) registered his best qualifying performance of the season in sixth position. The MV Agusta rider is one of three riders from the Italian manufacturer inside the top ten
More on worldsbk.com
P1 | Yari Montella | Barni Spark Racing Team
“It was a good day for sure. It was strange because in the morning I didn’t feel comfortable with the rear tyre. We were able to work hard during the sessions, and find a good solution to this problem. I believed we had the speed for pole position. We fought for the pole position with Huertas and tomorrow I expect it will be the same as in Donington and Misano against him. I have good pace and I feel good with the bike. We’ll try to do our best in Race 1.”
"Stoprak" Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) continued his strong recent run of form by topping both World Superbike practice session at Autodrom Most. Photo courtesy Dorna.
TITANIC TRIO RETURNS: familiar faces, new colours as Razgatlioglu leads Bautista and Rea on Friday at Most
Four manufacturers were in the top four on Friday at Most with plenty to dissect from the two practice sessions
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was once again the rider to beat in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as the #54 just beat Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) by a tenth at the Autodrom Most. Razgatlioglu and Bautista were the only two riders inside the 1’31s bracket on the first day of the Czech Round.
RAZGATLIOGLU ON TOP: leading the away again
Razgatlioglu continued exactly how he started the weekend by posting an uncatchable lap time in FP2, posting a 1’31.519s, almost four tenths quicker than he went in the morning and once again leading BMW’s charge. Teammate Michael van der Mark was one of two more BMW riders inside the top ten as he claimed eighth, just ahead of Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth with only 0.030s separating the pair. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) improved on his final lap to move into 13th place.
BAUTISTA’S BEST FRIDAY OF 2024? second place, just a tenth behind…
Reigning Champion Bautista claimed second place after posting a 1’31.622s with him and Razgatlioglu the only two riders in the 1’31s bracket. Teammate Nicolo Bulega (was fifth, half-a-second down on Razgatlioglu and four tenths away from the #1. Independent star Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) made it three Ducatis in the top six as he claimed sixth with a 1’32.110s, just a tenth away from Bulega ahead. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) had a difficult Friday morning with several off-track excursions, but he bounced back in the afternoon for P10, just a couple of hundredths ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in 11th in FP2 and 12th overall. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) had a really challenging Friday afternoon with the #21 not setting a lap time with his bike only running on two cylinders. However, his FP1 time of 1’32.800s was good enough for 10th in that session and 17th overall.
STRONG FRIDAY FOR REA: third place and top Yamaha
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) seems to have been able to continue with the momentum he built at Donington as he finished third on Friday after setting a 1’32.033s. The #65 was the lead Yamaha rider once again, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in seventh. Gardner was one of a handful of riders unable to improve in the afternoon’s warmer conditions but his 1’32.233s from FP1 still secured a spot in the top seven. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) completed the top ten after ‘Loka’ had a crash at Turn 2 in FP2, but he was able to post a 1’32.369s to secure a top ten spot. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 14th, Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was 19th and Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) 21st.
LOWES IN FOURTH: four manufacturers in the top four
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the lead Kawasaki rider once again as he secured fourth place with a 1’32.052s, just a couple of hundredths away from Rea in front. The #22’s P4 means four different manufacturers secured a place in the top four. Teammate Axel Bassani was quick out of the blocks in FP1 and FP2 but fell down the order to 15th, while Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completed the Kawasaki runners with 18th place.
GOOD MORNING, DIFFICULT AFTERNOON: mixed day for Honda
Honda had a good Friday morning but neither Team HRC could improve in the afternoon. Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge were, as always, closely matched with just half-a-tenth between the two Spaniards. Vierge’s day was disrupted by a technical issue in FP2. Leandro Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was the fastest of the MIE Honda riders after setting a 1’34.344s, finishing around four tenths clear of teammate Hayden Gillim, who, on his first visit to Most, had a solid start to his debut WorldSBK weekend.
The top six from WorldSBK’s Friday action, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’31.519s
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.103s
3. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.514s
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.533s
5. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.552s
6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.591s
Yari Montella was quickest in World Supersport Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Autodrom Most, in the Czech Republic. Riding his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian lapped the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) course in 1:34.882 to lead the field of 33 riders.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was second-best with a 1:35.042 on his Evan Bros. Yamaha YZF-R6.
Valentin Debise (53). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Stefano Manzi was third-fastest with a 1:25.165 on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing machine.
"Stoprak" Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) continued his strong recent run of form by topping both World Superbike practice session at Autodrom Most. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The 2021 Champion was unbeatable at Donington, and he’s started the Czech Round in the same fashion with the fastest FP1 time
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) continued where he left Donington last weekend by topping Free Practice 1 at the Autodrom Most. The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has travelled east to the Czech Republic for Round 6 of the 2024 season and the Turkish superstar’s form has continued as he lapped almost three tenths quicker than his rivals as the Czech Round got underway.
Razgatlioglu initially went for an out lap before returning to the pits for a while, eventually setting a lap time later than his rivals. However, his delayed start to his hot laps didn’t prevent him from immediately going fastest. The #54 was straight into the 1’32s before setting a 1’31.947s around halfway through the 45-minute Free Practice 1 session. Straight away, he was six tenths clear of his rivals, although the gap did close slightly as the session progressed. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) claimed second as he continued to be the lead Yamaha rider, lapping just under three tenths slower than the 2021 Champion, while Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third as he had a strong start to his weekend.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who started the weekend in a good way, often being in the top three but finishing in fourth. He set a 1’32.362s to finish 0.415s behind Razgatlioglu as he finished as the top Independent rider. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) continued his Donington form in FP1 as he claimed fifth, just 0.003s behind Petrucci, while Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) completed the top six finishing exactly a tenth behind the #45.
Seventh place belonged to Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) as he posted a 1’32.507s, 0.031s clear of Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in eighth. After admitting on Thursday that he was expecting a tough weekend, it’ll give Honda confidence after a decent start to the weekend with Lecuona in P8 and Xavi Vierge just outside the top ten. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the lead Kawasaki rider in ninth with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) rounding out the top ten.
The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’31.947s
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