As in Superbike, 22 riders will compete during the 2023 season of the FIM Supersport World Championship which begins on the Phillip Island circuit in Australia, after two days of testing on the same track at the start of the week which , like the winter tests in Jerez and Portimão, were masterfully dominated by Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team). The Ducati official therefore looks like a scarecrow, even if another Italian, Stefano manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) proved to be his toughest opponent on the Australian track.
3rd at the end of the official test, Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) is the only rider to have managed to win in front of a 100% Italian squadron, riders and motorcycles, made up of Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team), Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura).
Bayliss oils (D34G Racing) further strengthens Ducati's chances while Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) places the first Triumph in the Top 10. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki), which closes this one is expected higher in the hierarchy.
We will also follow the beginnings of Valentine Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) for his first full-time season.
With 26° in the air and 31° on the track, the conditions are beautiful at the end of summer on the Australian island, despite a wind blowing at 10 km/h.
A new season begins! 😎
We are back in action for 2023 with #WorldSSP FP1 at Phillip Island! 🚥#AUSWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/HS4HWLaXYC
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) February 23, 2023
When the red lights go out, it's Valentin Debise who rushes first in front Adrian Huertas for this 45-minute Supersport session, while Can Öncü experiences a mechanical problem in his exit lap and has to pass through the grass to return to his box.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Bulega registered the first reference in 1'34.187 but Stefano manzi responds immediately in 1'34.137. Never mind, the Ducati rider clocked a 1'33.810 in the following lap before being overtaken by the Iwata representative in 1'33.787: the tone is set and, indeed, Nicholas Bulega continued to respond in 1'33.593 while the session was interrupted at the red flag by the minor fall ofAdrian Huertas at turn #10.
FP1 for the #WorldSSP riders is red flagged due to a turn 10 crash for Adrian Huertas. Rider OK 🚩#AUSWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/VW5pqTL5SD
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) February 23, 2023
The session starts again quickly and, six minutes later, Stefano manzi regains command in 1'33.514, only 3/10 of a second from his best time achieved during the official test. The two leaders are then more than 7/10 ahead of the third, Federico Caricasulo.
We get an early look at Stefano Manzi 🏍
The Italian was fast in preseason testing! 🇮🇹#AUSWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/4bEzzmeVIL
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) February 23, 2023
A little after mid-session, the top 10 is made up of Stefano Manzi, Nicolò Bulega, Federico Caricasulo which came close to 4/10, Oliver Bayliss, Can Öncü, Yari Montella, Marcel Schrötter (MV Agusta Reparto Corsica), Niki Tuuli, Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) and Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) followed by Adrian Huertas et Valentine Debise at 1,5 seconds.
Niki Tuuli receives a black flag because of the GPS hanging from his Triumph…
Black flag for Niki Tuuli in FP1 due to GPS hanging off his bike 🏴#AUSWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/BfjH5P6nOW
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) February 23, 2023
During a final run which is limited to eight minutes, Adrian Huertas jumped from 12th to 3rd position…
Adrian Huertas back in action 💥
The MTM Kawasaki rider is fine after his crash earlier 👍#AUSWorldSBK ???????? pic.twitter.com/IXTfJMQKaX
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) February 24, 2023
Then Valentine Debise temporarily positioned 6th before being pushed back by Marcel Schrötter in extremis, while leadership is retained by Stefano manzi who manages, for the first time this season, to get the best of Nicholas Bulega.
Results from FP1 Supersport at Phillip Island:
Classification credit: WorldSBK.com
