Superbike – Estoril – FP1: Razgatlioglu sets the tone

The Turkish rider took the lead during the first free practice session at Estoril, ahead of the Kawasakis of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes.

Just one week after the season opener in Aragón, Superbike continues this weekend with a second round in Portugal. Under bright skies, the competitors took to the track to get their bearings on the Estoril route.

The latter, which made its return to the category calendar in its new configuration last year, thereby closing the 2020 season, this time finds itself brought forward at the start of the year, with the direct consequence of warmer temperatures. hot.

It was in fact under a radiant sky that the competitors took to the track to find their bearings. And like last fall, when he dominated the three free practice sessions, it's Scott Redding who pulled the chestnuts out of the fire by immediately going to the top of the timesheet. The Ducati rider, winner of Race 2 at Motorland Aragón last Sunday, subsequently engaged in a fine duel with Toprak Razgatlioglu, first driver to pass into the 1'37 zone this weekend.

Summary of the results of the 2020 edition:

WSBK Superbike Estoril	October 2020	May 2021
FP1	1'37.181 Scott Redding	1'36.920 Toprak Razgatlioglu
FP2	1'36.886 Scott Redding
FP3	1'36.770 Scott Redding
Super poles	1'36.154 Toprak Razgatlioglu
Race 1	Razgatlioglu, Davies, Gerloff
Warm Up	1'36.424 Toprak Razgatlioglu
Superpole race	Razgatlioglu, Gerloff, Van der Mark
Race 2	Davies, Redding, Razgatlioglu
All time lap record	1'36.154 Toprak Razgatlioglu

 

Razgatlioglu alone driver already in 1'36

The Turkish driver, who also shone last year on the Portuguese circuit, signing two successes as well as his first Superpole, was in very good shape during this first session, responding blow for blow to the improvements in times of his British opponent.

He finally won his case, on the gong, with a best time of 1'36.920, a margin of more than half a second over his two closest rivals, namely the Kawasaki riders. Jonathan Rhea et alex lowes. Redding must be content with fourth place at the end of this first session, ahead of a surprising Eugene Laverty, dashing during these EL1.

 

 

Already two falls for Bautista

Chaz Davies, winner of Race 2 last year, delivered a studious and no-nonsense session, gaining sixth position, ahead of Jonas Folger et Garrett Gerloff. The top 10 is completed by Tom Sykes et Michael Ruben Rinaldi.

Complicated session for the Hondas, Alvaro Bautista continuing its poor momentum from last week with already two falls this Friday morning, including one at high speed at the end of the session approaching turn 7, fortunately without consequences. The Spaniard finished 14th and his teammate Leon Haslam 12e.

These EL1s will not leave a lasting memory either. Michael van der Mark, only 16th, the BMW driver who encountered a technical problem and had to return to the pits in slow motion, having only a minimum of time to get back on the track and set a time that is far from his objectives.

French side, Christophe Ponsson et Lucas Mahias finished 19th and 20th respectively.

 

Superbike – Estoril – EL1 results:

Credit classification and photos: WorldSBK.com