Álvaro Bautista flew the colors of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team high by finishing second in the private Superbike tests in Barcelona at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya (Spain).
Despite fairly cold temperatures and unpredictable weather, the Spanish rider of the Italian team worked profitably on his Ducati Panigale V4R during these two intense days.
Alvaro Bautista also had the opportunity to ride in the wet after the heavy rain that fell during the Saturday lunch break.
Friday :
Álvaro Bautista took to the track and immediately found a good feeling on his Ducati Panigale V4R. The Spanish driver completed 93 laps, setting an extremely convincing race pace and finishing with the best time of 1'40.824 on racing tires.
WSBK Tests Catalonia J1: times
1 – Á. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’40.824
2 – J. Rea (Kawasaki) 1’41.062
3 – G. Gerloff (Yamaha) 1’41.229
4 – M. Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’41.360
5 – T. Razgatlioğlu (Yamaha) 1’41.523
On Saturday:
Despite the very low temperature, Bautista was able to continue working with the racing tires, without using the new qualifying tire introduced by Pirelli (SCQ).
In the afternoon, Bautista returned to the track in wet conditions and completed 18 laps.
WSBK Tests Catalonia J2: times
1. Toprak Razgatlioğlu (TR), Yamaha, 1:40.571
2. Álvaro Bautista (E), Ducati: 1:40.952
3. Iker Lecuona (E), Honda, 1:41.033
4. Jonathan Rea (GB), Kawasaki, 1:41.168
5th Garrett Gerloff (USA), Yamaha, 1:41.320
6th Michael Rinaldi (I), Ducati, 1:41.610
7th Scott Redding (GB), 1:41.636
8th Xavi Virgin (E), Honda, 1:41.724
9 Philipp Öttl (D), Ducati, 1:41.735
10 Lucas Mahias (F), Kawasaki, 1:41.744
11 Andrea Locatelli (I), Yamaha, 1:41.946
12 Alex Lowes (GB), Kawasaki, 1:41.999
13 Kohta Nozane (J), Yamaha, 1:42.509
14 Ilya Mikhalchik (UA), BMW, 1:42.763
15 Eugene Laverty (IRL), BMW, 1:43.305
16 Loris Baz (F), BMW, 1:43.761
17 Luca Bernardi (I), Ducati, 1:43.823
18 Oliver König (CZ), Kawasaki, 1:44.855
19 Loris Cresson (B), Kawasaki, 1:45.400
20 Hafizh Syahrin (MAL), Honda, 1:45.539
21. Tati Mercado (RA), Honda, did not race
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19): “ I am satisfied with these two days of testing. We worked a lot on the bike, trying interesting solutions which yielded positive results. We also tried the new rear tire that Pirelli is expected to bring to the Barcelona circuit, although obviously the weather conditions will be different. We are making constant progress and this gives us great confidence. Let's go to the Aragón test to sort out the final details that will allow us to be ready for the first round. »
