WSBK Tests Jerez J2: Jonathan Rea shows his muscles and MV Agusta promises

The second day of WSBK testing in Jerez allowed Jonathan Rea to show strength and determination before the start of this season in the category reserved for motorcycles derived from the series. It only took him five laps to beat the reference time of his teammate Alex Lowes set the day before, and not just a little, with 1.5 seconds better. There were only three ZX-10Rs on the Spanish track since Honda had already left the scene, but with a big smile. In Supersport, the new weapon MV Agusta blessed by new regulations dominated the traditional 600…

The second and final day of the WorldSBK private test at the Ángel Nieto Circuit in Jerez took place in ideal conditions with a mercury peaking at 18° and with less wind than Wednesday. Only three riders in the Superbike category rode today, both members of the Kawasaki Racing Team, Jonathan Rhea et alex lowes, and the resident of the Puccetti team, the French Lucas Mahias. Honda had decided not to go out on the track to reserve private test days limited to 10 per driver this season. Xavi Verge et Iker Lecuona were therefore absent.

Jonathan Rhea went out on the track at 13:00 p.m. completed a total of 61 laps until the checkered flag, and despite the short time he spent on the track, he had no problem setting a super time to leave his teammate almost 1,5 seconds behind. If, the day before, no driver was able to go under the 1'40 mark in Jerez, Sale only needed five rounds today to score his first 39 of the day. The six-time Superbike champion continued to lower his times over the laps, and before closing the shutter of his box he stopped the clock at 1'38.851, a time practically identical to the 1'38.831 that he himself set during his last visit to Jerez in December.

alex lowes, for his part, continued the work started on Wednesday. The Briton confirmed the good condition of the injured shoulder at the end of 2021, signing a 1'40.266 which improved his best time from Wednesday by a tenth. Behind him, Lucas Mahias closed the short list of Superbike riders with a 1'40.542 and with very good sensations in the wrist that he fractured four months ago. Mahias tested a suspension system Öhlins instead of Showa. Barring any surprises, it seems that the Italian team will bet on the Swedish brand in 2022.

Jonathan Rea impresses but so does Kenan Sofuoglu!

In the Supersport category, Niki Tuuli place its news again MV Agusta F3 800 on your mind. The Finn shaved half a second off his best time from Wednesday, followed by Can Öncü (1'42.361), who entrusted his Kawasaki ZX-6R to his mentor, Kenan Sofuoglu, during a session for the former Turkish rider to test his bike and confirmed some modifications to the Puccetti team's braking system.

In addition to shooting with the ZX-6R, Sofuoglu returned this Thursday on the MV Agusta F3 800 of his nephew Bahattin, absent from the test due to COVID19, to complete 30 additional laps and set a personal best in 1'43.774, 1.5 seconds behind the MV Agusta of Tuuli. Ana Carrasco completed his second day of testing on the Orelac VerdNatura ZX-6R, racking up 52 laps and a best time of 1'47.553, five seconds behind the fastest men in the class.

After this test in Jerez, some teams from World SBK will go to Portimao to turn the February 8 and 9, with the teams Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK, Barni Spark Racing Team and Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK.