WSBK Superbike Australia FP1: Álvaro Bautista missteps, Jonathan Rea flies away

Jonathan Rhea was the fastest in the start of Phillip Island. Harmless fall for Alvaro Bautista.

About Paul Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

Jonathan Rhea was the fastest rider in the first Superbike test session at Phillip Island, edging out by a whisker Toprak Razgatlioğlu and, just behind, Alvaro Bautista. Behind the usual three, there is a void: alex lowes, with the second Kawasaki, held on (326 thousandths of a second behind), the rest of the peloton took a gap of a second or more. The sun was out and the temperature was acceptable (18°C), but for the rest of the weekend, the forecast is bad: rain and strong wind on the horizon. In Australia, it's the beginning of spring. Alvaro Bautista, newly crowned world champion, also suffered an ordinary fall at turn 4, without any damage to the rider or the bike. Ducati, after winning the drivers' title, will also get its hands on its 18th constructors' crown here.

 

 

Phillip Öttl capable and fast
German Phillip Öttl, who was in doubt until the last minute due to the consequences of the disastrous fall he suffered in Mandalika, Indonesia, the previous week, also took to the track. The Go Eleven team rider, after receiving the green light from the doctors, completed around twenty impressive laps, at a very good pace: seventh time, better than the Ducati factory rider Michael Rinaldi. The 40-year-old Japanese pilot, Tetsuta nagashima, HRC test pilot replacingIker Lecuona, injured, achieved very good performances during these first tests: ninth time, better than his teammate Xavi Verge. Remember that with the CBR-RR, Nagashima triumphed this summer at the Suzuka 8 Hours.

 

 

Pirelli special
In the final three races of this year's Superbike edition, it will be important to better manage grip: Phillip Island is the most aggressive circuit on the calendar. Pirelli has provided two special solutions for this circuit. “ Due to its unique character, it is not a circuit that can be approached with usual solutions of the range, especially at the rear, which is the most stressed wheel “, explains Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director. “ We have to rely on development tires designed almost ad hoc for this track. There will be two new mid-rear compound solutions with stronger structures than the range. » The rain, this unknown, could ruin all plans.

 

 

FP1 Superbike results at Phillip Island:

Classification credit: WorldSBK.com

Photo: Mimmo Maggiali

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Paul Gozzi