WSBK Supersport Jerez FP1: Öttl fastest ahead of Gonzalez, Cluzel 11th

The German driver set the best time during the first free practice session in Jerez, ahead of Manuel Gonzalez and Niki Tuuli.

Less than a week after its last round contested in Catalonia, the Supersport resumed its rights this Friday morning, still in Spain but this time in Andalusia, with the holding of the first free practice session in the category.

If Superbike deplores several absences this weekend, it is on the contrary returns which make the headlines in Supersport, with a permanent comeback and another more temporary. The permanent comeback is of course that of Dominique Aegerter, who last week favored his commitment to MotoE to try to win the title, and who is therefore making his return this weekend in the other championship in which he is participating this year.

Waltz of returns in the category

Unfortunately for the Swiss, his attempt to make it a double in the electric championship was unfortunately not successful, after having won the race in Misano. Alas, a too rough maneuver carried out on his rival Jordi Torres caused him to lose his crown on the green carpet.

Aegerter can nevertheless hope for a much more positive outcome in Supersport, where he still leads his opponent Steven Odendaal by 45 points, the South African having been unable to significantly reduce his delay during the round run in Montmeló.

Concerning the temporary return, it is neither more nor less that of the five-time world champion in the category (2007, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016), Kenan Sofuoğlu. The Turkish rider is indeed back in action this weekend on behalf of Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, and we have already seen him busy in the garage and providing a lot of advice to his young compatriot, Can Öncü and giving a hug in Toprak Razgatlioğlu.

 

Öttl versus Gonzalez, act I

In terms of timing, Philipp Öttl held first place for a good part of the session. If the title is indeed decided between Aegerter and Odendaal, we must not forget the fight for third place in the championship, which pits the German driver against Manuel Gonzalez.

The two men are following opposite dynamics at the end of the season, Öttl having slowed down unlike his Spanish rival, who scored his second victory this year during Race 2 in Catalonia. But Öttl seems to have found a second wind during these FP1, which he finished in first place in front of Gonzalez.

 

 

Niki Tuuli took third place ahead of a duo of Swiss drivers composed of Randy Krummenacher and Aegerter. The first city continues to impress for what is only its second round for the benefit of the CM Racing team. The 2019 World Champion in the category had already caused a sensation last week by winning Race 1 in Catalonia.

Odendaal finished the session in sixth position, ahead of Stefano Manzi and Federico Caricasulo, who went off the track without serious consequences in the final minutes. Öncü and Raffaele de Rosa complete the top 10, ahead of Jules Cluzel, who is also making his return to competition this weekend, finally recovering from his accident which occurred in the first lap of Race 2 contested at Magny-Cours three weeks ago .

Supersport Jerez – FP1:

 

 Classification credit: WorldSBK.com