WorldSBK

The first day of the Estoril Tour just ended with the Toprak Razgatlioglu (Bata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) in good shape. Turk was really fastest with 1’36,290 laps.

Yamaha vs Ducati: Razgatlioglu Defense Bautista

After the clash that ended on the ferry in Assen, Razcatlioglu is determined to make a clean sweep of Portugal’s past. Second in the opening session, the world champion, whose Yamaha is equipped with brake ventilators, took the lead to conclude the day with just under twenty ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). With the “novelties” of the YZF-R1, the Turk did not leave first place at all. His teammate Andrea Locatelli for his part, finished sixth.

Bautista was third in FP1 and then 2PM, and is also in good shape on the steering wheel of his Panigale V4 R equipped with brake air intakes like many of the others. After a disappointing morning, teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi made up for it in FP2 by moving up to fifth in the hierarchy.

Independents Shine: Gerloff is back in power

Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who had the best time in the morning, was finally pushed into third place overall. The American, who scored a podium twice at Estoril in 2020 and fought for the top three last year, plans to do the same this weekend. Loris Paz (Bonovo Action BMW) was ranked eighth in the hierarchy with the second best independent driver and BMW. The Frenchman was just behind Razgatlioglu for a second. He was ahead of compatriot Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Buchitti Racing), who completed the top ten that day.

KAWASAKI: A mixed first day?

After struggling in the first session, Kawasaki rebounded somewhat in the afternoon, with Jonathan Rea (Team Kawasaki Racing World SPK) on top for most of the session. Sitting fifth in FP1, Rea immediately took the lead, riding the SC0 rear tire to finish fourth overall. However, not all was positive for the Japanese factory as Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had problems in FP2. Lowes was also using the brake air intakes for the first time, but was back to his morning settings in the last 10 minutes. The Briton finally had to settle for the eleventh time.

Honda and BMW: Strong day for HRC, disaster for Van der Mark

The first day of the weekend was very successful for Honda, with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) finishing seventh in FP2 ahead of Iker Lecuona, ninth in the same session. Overall, a Virgo is a tenth faster than his teammate who debuted at Circuito Estoril. If brake coolers are clearly visible in the box, the HRC team did not use them on Friday.

For BMW, the day started in the worst possible way with Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) falling off at the exit of Turn 10. The Dutchman fractured the neck of his right femur and had to put an end to it. Portuguese weekend. Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) ranked 12th for the fastest time.

And the others…

After finishing fifth in FP1, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) struggled more during the afternoon and couldn’t do better than 13th in the combined standings ahead of Eugene Laverty (Bonovo Action BMW), seventh in FP1. Philip Uttle (Team Guelvin) crashed hard shortly before the checkered flag at the exit of Turn 13; He was taken to the medical center for further examinations and declared unfit with a fracture of the right clavicle. Kohta Nozane (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) rebounded after a foul in FP1 to finish 16th, ahead of Marvin Fritz (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), replacing Roberto Tamburini, Christophe Bunson (Gill Motorsport-Yamaha), Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing). Honda Team) and Luca Bernardi (Barney Spark Racing Team).

Hafiz Seahren (MIE Racing Honda), Isaac Vinales (TPR Pedercini Racing) and Oliver König (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) completed the standings.

Le Top 6 (FP1-2)

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’36.290

2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) + 0.173sec

3. Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team)

4. Jonathan Rhea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) + 0.791sec

5. Michael Robin Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) + 0.899s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) + 0.911 s