Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was once again the rider to beat in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as the #54 just beat Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) by a tenth at the Autodrom Most. Razgatlioglu and Bautista were the only two riders inside the 1’31s bracket on the first day of the Czech Round.

RAZGATLIOGLU ON TOP: leading the away again

Razgatlioglu continued exactly how he started the weekend by posting an uncatchable lap time in FP2, posting a 1’31.519s, almost four tenths quicker than he went in the morning and once again leading BMW’s charge. Teammate Michael van der Mark was one of two more BMW riders inside the top ten as he claimed eighth, just ahead of Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth with only 0.030s separating the pair. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) improved on his final lap to move into 13^th place.

One more session led by EL TURCO #CzechWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/aKJTk6RI9w

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) July 19, 2024

BAUTISTA’S BEST FRIDAY OF 2024? second place, just a tenth behind…

Reigning Champion Bautista claimed second place after posting a 1’31.622s with him and Razgatlioglu the only two riders in the 1’31s bracket. Teammate Nicolo Bulega (was fifth, half-a-second down on Razgatlioglu and four tenths away from the #1. Independent star Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) made it three Ducatis in the top six as he claimed sixth with a 1’32.110s, just a tenth away from Bulega ahead. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) had a difficult Friday morning with several off-track excursions, but he bounced back in the afternoon for P10, just a couple of hundredths ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in 11^th in FP2 and 12^th overall. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) had a really challenging Friday afternoon with the #21 not setting a lap time with his bike only running on two cylinders. However, his FP1 time of 1’32.800s was good enough for 10^th in that session and 17^th overall.

STRONG FRIDAY FOR REA: third place and top Yamaha

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) seems to have been able to continue with the momentum he built at Donington as he finished third on Friday after setting a 1’32.033s. The #65 was the lead Yamaha rider once again, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in seventh. Gardner was one of a handful of riders unable to improve in the afternoon’s warmer conditions but his 1’32.233s from FP1 still secured a spot in the top seven. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) completed the top ten after ‘Loka’ had a crash at Turn 2 in FP2, but he was able to post a 1’32.369s to secure a top ten spot. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 14^th, Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was 19^th and Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) 21^st.

@jonathan_rea also improves and moves up to #CzechWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/fYStj4cmeo

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) July 19, 2024

LOWES IN FOURTH: four manufacturers in the top four

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the lead Kawasaki rider once again as he secured fourth place with a 1’32.052s, just a couple of hundredths away from Rea in front. The #22’s P4 means four different manufacturers secured a place in the top four. Teammate Axel Bassani was quick out of the blocks in FP1 and FP2 but fell down the order to 15^th, while Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completed the Kawasaki runners with 18^th place.

GOOD MORNING, DIFFICULT AFTERNOON: mixed day for Honda

Honda had a good Friday morning but neither Team HRC could improve in the afternoon. Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge were, as always, closely matched with just half-a-tenth between the two Spaniards. Vierge’s day was disrupted by a technical issue in FP2. Leandro Mercado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was the fastest of the MIE Honda riders after setting a 1’34.344s, finishing around four tenths clear of teammate Hayden Gillim, who, on his first visit to Most, had a solid start to his debut WorldSBK weekend.

The top six from WorldSBK’s Friday action, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’31.519s

2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.103s

3. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.514s

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.533s

5. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.552s

6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.591s

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Source: WorldSBK.com