WSBK tests in Misano J2: Absolute Superbike record for Scott Redding (Ducati)

While several of the MotoGP teams headed back home from the Adriatic beaches after finishing their tests, the Superbike World Championship competitors completed their final test session on Thursday. The official Kawasaki and Ducati teams took part alongside satellite teams equipped with Panigale V4 R. They were joined by Johann Zarco as well as some participants in the Supersport World Championship, and even Max Biaggi With l'Aprilia RSV4-RR 1100 specially developed for the Italian CIV championship.

While BMW was testing at the Lausitzring and Honda in Japan (where there will be no Superbike World Championship race this year), Ducati and Kawasaki preferred to grind the asphalt at Misano in order to discover the new, completely redone surface and to adapt to it. The temperature will not be the same during the world round as it is scheduled for November 6 to 8 (to be confirmed).

Michael Ruben Rinaldi had greatly impressed his opponents the day before by setting the second time, 0.08 behind the leader Scott Redding. He rode a Ducati for the GoEleven team, the Bolognese manufacturer's junior team. According to Denis Sacchetti, the team manager, was the idea to do like Pramac with Jack Miller ? “ Absolutely, that's correct », approved Sacchetti. “ We are a satellite team that helps young people on their journey to maturity, taking the Pramac team in MotoGP as an example. I think Michael has potential and he should express it. I think our Ducati is 95% like Aruba's. I have to admit that last year wasn't easy with V4, as it was a sharp departure from V2. We had to take some time to understand and get to know the bike, in fact we were immature in a way. Now we are more aware and more confident in motorcycling because we have improved our knowledge. In addition, there are some new features, such as the Öhlins suspension, which brings us closer to the official Ducati, eliminating the gap of the past. »

Above and below: Michael Ruben Rinaldi

Participants in the Misano Superbike tests:

Kawasaki: Jonathan Rea, Alex Lowes

Aruba.it Ducati: Scott Redding, Chaz Davies

Barni Ducati: Leon Camier

Go Eleven Ducati: Michael Rinaldi

Brixx Ducati: Sylvain Barrier

Motocorsa Ducati: Leandro Mercado

Results of the first day (Wednesday) in SBK:

1. Scott Redding (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) 1’33.957

2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Goeleven) 1'34.043

3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1'34.381

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1'34.745

5. Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’34.900

6. Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) 1'35.183

7. Leon Camier (Barni Ducati) 1'35.773

8. Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Ducati) 1'37.0

Reference times:

Test record: 1'33.640 by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) in 2018

Lap record: 1'34.720 1 by Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) in 2015

On the morning of the last day, Aprilia and Ducati, who had completed most of their MotoGP testing, gave their riders a break to thank them for their long work in full sun, and Aleix Espargaro took the opportunity to achieve his best performance, faster than Michele Pirro by 0.106.

Result of the third day (Thursday) at midday in MotoGP:

1 – Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) 1’32.932

2 – Michele Pirro (Ducati) 1’33.038

3 – Bradley Smith (Aprilia) 1’33.768

Results of the second day (Thursday) at midday in Superbike:

1 – Scott Redding (Ducati) 1’33.675

2 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 1’33.854

3 – Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Ducati) 1’34.269

4 – Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1'34.381

5 – Alex Lowes (Kawasaki) 1’34.519

6 – Tati Mercado (Ducati) 1’35.421

7 – Leon Camier (Ducati) 1’36.759

8 – Sylvain Barrier (Ducati) 1’37.675

During the last afternoon of these Misano tests, several drivers took advantage of the final moments spent on the Marco Simoncelli World Circuit to put up Superpole Pirellis in order to achieve a super time. After the many laps laboriously carried out by all the drivers to technically improve the machines, this was the little pleasure offered to them by their teams. This also made it possible to refine the settings for future qualifying, depending on the new asphalt.

Johann zarco also took part in these tests organized by his new Bolognese employer, with his original Panigale V4 improved for the track, to get back into the rhythm.

Taking as a basis the time achieved by Scott Redding this morning in 1'33.957, we could have as an objective for this end of the tests the absolute (and unofficial) record established for Superbikes in 1'33.640 by Tom Sykes on Kawasaki in 2018. The new, very good quality coating could prove to be a valuable help.

Scott Redding achieved a very good feat, taking into account the high heat, with a record lap time of 1'33.067, in a Pirelli Superpole type of course. Johnny Rea was not unworthy and also fell below Tom Sykes' old record. The Ulster Kawasaki rider took second place with a very good 1'33.206. Michael Ruben Rinaldi confirmed his good overall performance with the third time in 1'33.560. He preceded Alex Lowes and ZX-10RR, fourth in 1'33.694.

Sylvain Barrier ranked seventh in 1'36.752, just ahead of Leon "The other Leon" Camier in 1'36.759. It was the first time that “Syl'20” rode this bike, and he was handicapped for a good part of the day by a fall when he lost the front in the morning in Turn 3, the Variante del Parco.

Results of the second day (Thursday) in SBK:

1. Scott Redding (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) 1’33.067

2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1'33.206

3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GoEleven) 1'33.560

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1'33.694

5. Chaz Davies (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) 1’33.854

6. Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) 1'34.859

7. Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Ducati) 1'36.752

8. Leon Camier (Barni Ducati) 1'36.759

As for the Supersport category, the only Yamaha of the leader of the provisional World Championship ranking Andrea Locatelli was opposed to the three MV Agusta of Randy Krummenacher, Raffaele de Rosa (current second in the SSP world) and Federico Fuligni. The Japanese R6 dominated the Italian F3 675s for almost the entire day.

The most surprising thing was the very clear gap, with an advantage of 0.8 for Locatelli over de Rosa, 1.2 over Krummenacher, the reigning World Champion, and 1.7 over Federico Fuligni.

Locatelli aims for the title at the end of the year: “The most important thing at the moment is to try to win this year, and then I would like to enter the World Superbike Championship. We will see what is the best path for me. »

“If I go to Superbike, then Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) is definitely one of the best, along with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team). The WorldSBK peloton has a lot of fast riders! »

Supersport final result:

1. Andrea Locatelli (Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha) 1'37.664

2. Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta) 1'38.444

3. Randy Krummenacher (MV Agusta) 1'38.813

4. Federico Fuligni (MV Agusta) 1'39.325

Reference times:

Test record: 1'37.482 by Jules Cluzel on MV Agusta in 2005

Lap record: 1'38.193 by Sandro Cortese on Yamaha Kallio Racing in 2018

Raffaele de Rosa, second time

Max Biaggi (photos below) carefully continued development of the Aprilia 1100 which will defend the colors of the brand in the Italian Championship, and perhaps in the future in the World Championship if an equivalence formula is found for the 'approval.

Photos © Worldsbk.com / Dorna, Ducati, Kawasaki, GoEleven