WSBK Superbike Catalunya FP2: Álvaro Bautista makes the big voice, and who can catch up with him?

Álvaro Bautista was the most incisive during the second Superbike test session in Catalonia. On a timed lap and for pace, the Ducati rider is the rider to beat.

Paul Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

Alvaro Bautista was the most incisive during the second Superbike test session in Catalonia. On lap time and pace, the Ducati rider is the rider to beat. In the standings of the session, he finished ahead Jonathan Rea, Andrea Locatelli and Michael Rinaldi. The Friday record holder, however, remains Iker LecuonaIncluding the Honda switched to super soft tires during FP1.

 

Unstoppable Bautista
Ducati marked this lap with a red circle: On this track, Alvaro Bautista has always been wild, with all types of motorcycles. Of the five remaining circuits, this one, along with Phillip Island, the venue for the Superbike final, is the most favorable. The Madrilenian did not disappoint expectations. He used the second session to simulate long races, completing fifteen laps at a very high pace. Jonathan Rhea also did the same plan, but over an identical distance the timing of the Kawasaki is not even comparable: 6-7 tenths per lap! Toprak Razgtalioğlu has done much shorter runs, so the potential is indecipherable, although it is logical to think that Yamaha will be there when the time comes. But, there is a but"…

 

 

The rain hides
The factor that could break the bank is rain, widely forecast for all day Saturday. To be fair, the forecast also called for a wet Friday afternoon, but it turned out to be dry. It is clear that Ducati will scan the sky, hoping that it remains clear. With water, Bautista would become more attackable, so, at least on paper, Rea isn't hoping for anything else. And let's not forget that in the very wet race 1 a year ago, Toprak was in the lead, before the Yamaha left him behind.

 

 

The return of demons at BMW
The anger (euphemism…) of Michael van der Mark during FP1 is the mirror of a BMW which, on this circuit, seems to have made a clear step back compared to its last outings. The Dutchman had only completed two laps in the morning, before having to stop for a serious technical problem. But even Scott Redding et Loris Baz do not shine: The Frenchman has just been confirmed, with the stripes of official runner, even if he is on the Bonovo satellite. “ This is not our circuit », Repeat the managers of the two BMW teams. But here in Barcelona, ​​just a year ago, Loris Baz stamped the Superpole with an incredible 1'40.408. Of course, we're only talking about one lap, on ultra-soft tires. But twelve months later, the BMW is far from these benchmarks: A sobering turnaround.

 

 

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Paul Gozzi