WSBK Superbike Argentina FP1: Razgatlioğlu unstoppable, the world championship is alive

Soil Razgatlioğlu is unstoppable: Best time and high pace during the first tests in San Juan. Alvaro Bautista achieved the fourth time.

Paul Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

Toprak Razgatlioğlu very fast: Best time and good pace during the first tests in San Juan. Alvaro Bautista achieved the fourth time: The championship remains open, despite the Ducati's 56-point lead over the Yamaha. The Turkish star completed a lap in 1'37"511, very close to the general record of the Argentine circuit, which he holds in 1'37"239. This is a figure to take into account because this track is little used during the year, so on Fridays it is generally not fast. If Soil Razgatlioğlu went so fast after only sixteen laps, imagine how far he can go by Sunday!

 

 

Álvaro Bautista takes six tenths.
In FP1, the leader of the World Championship occupies fourth position, also preceded by Jonathan Rhea and Andrea Locatelli rediscovered on the second Yamaha. The gap is significant, more than six tenths of a second. However, Álvaro Baptist worked well, following the same preparation program that he used on other occasions. Twenty-one passes under his belt, in order to maximize track time and accumulate data. Here, Álvarito with the Ducati has already won in 2019, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge. The Kawasaki launched Jonathan Rhea in second position at the end, with fresh tires. The Cannibal is strong here, but take three tenths from this Soil Razgatlioğlu wild will not be fun. Regardless, Jonathan Rea is still chasing: Once AgainÁlvaro Baptist, the other from the Turk, or even both.

 

 

The role of Andrea Locatelli
The most interesting clue from this first session came fromAndrea Locatelli, who dived behind Toprak on the last lap (new tire?), finishing third in the session behind Jonathan Rhea but in front Álvaro Baptist. A question arises: could the young Bergamo rider, on this circuit tailor-made for the Yamaha, secure the podium places and regain points from Álvaro Baptist ? Season file in hand, this seems a rather difficult mission, but Soil Razgatlioğlu definitely won't wait any longer. Axel Bassani, with the Ducati Motocorsa, has the fifth fastest time. The weekend of Michael Rinaldi started smoothly: Ninth. On the Ducati Barni, return from Xavi Fores, preferred to Luca Bernardi : 17th time two seconds from the summit.

 

 

At 20:00 p.m., the second session
The day's program at the San Juan circuit will end at 20:00 p.m. (French time) with the second free practice session. The last 45 minutes will be of capital importance as they will be an opportunity to test the tires and race settings: The time is identical to that of the two long races, on Saturday and Sunday.

WorldSBK Superbike FP1 results at San Juan Villicum:

Classification credit: WorldSBK.com

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Paul Gozzi