WSBK Superbike, Misano J1 Test: Razgatlıoğlu in world form, Bassani surprises

De Pierpaolo Franceschini / Corsedimoto.com

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu does better than Redding, Rinaldi and the 2019 Superpole. In Supersport Philipp Öttl is the fastest ahead of Steven Odendaal.

The first day of Superbike testing at Misano has come to an end. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu improves the times recorded in the morning and is once again at the top of the ranking. On the track we can breathe the atmosphere of the world championship with many protagonists, although its majesty Jonathan Rhea is absent, just like Honda and BMW. For many drivers, however, it was an opportunity to shake off the rust from winter while waiting for the first official test of the season in Barcelona at the end of the month.

Axel Bassani just behind Razgatlıoğlu and the Ducati!

As mentioned, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu is the best of the day in 1'34.2. A significant reference, remembering that the last Superpole at Misano dates back to 2019 and was in 1'34.5 (it should however be remembered that in the meantime the circuit has been re-surfaced). The Turkish Yamaha rider is faster than the two official Ducatis from Aruba: Scott Redding still stabilizes in 2nd place, around two tenths, while not far from there we find his teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi. The big surprise of this first day, however, is Axel Bassani : the Motocorsa rookie finished 4th in 1'35.0 and put several opponents behind him. We're still only talking about day one, but it's certainly an encouraging start.

Gerloff better than Locatelli

Behind the first four, there are Garrett Gerloff ; the American comes within one second of the day's benchmark for his first outing on the Misano circuit. Behind him, Andrea Locatelli, who is one second and four seconds behind his teammate. The Supersport champion leads a quartet of rookies, followed by Tito Rabat (+ 1,4), Lucas Mahias (+1,6) and Kohta Nozane (+2,3). The latter, like his teammate Gerloff, was riding for the first time at Misano.

Michele Pirro doubles the bet

Finally we find Christophe Ponsson two seconds and seven seconds behind Razgatlıoğlu, while Michele Pirro completes the Superbike rankings with a lap time of 1'37.1. Double work for the Ducati test rider: after racing on the Ducati of the Go Eleven team of Chaz Davies, Pirro is mounted on the Panigale V4 R of the Barni team in CIV configuration.

On the other hand, in Supersport, Philipp Öttl finished the first day in the lead. Best performance in 1'38.0: Steven Odendaal is four tenths slower. Behind them, Randy Krummenacher (+0,7) and Can Öncü (+ 1,0).