Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the fastest rider on Friday for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as he claimed P1 by just 0.081s. He was ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in second, while it was a very good day for Kawasaki as Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) found himself in the top five during the Acerbis Italian Round. With a mixed-up order and big hitters missing, could there be a surprise in store at the Cremona Circuit?

ALEX LOWES SURGES TO P1: leads the field by 0.081s, Rabat in P4

With track conditions vastly improved compared to Free Practice 1, there was an immediate rush to get out on track after half the field sat out the morning session. Alex Lowes took advantage of these to be the first rider into the 1’29s to claim P1 at the halfway stage of the session. With just over a minute remaining in the session, the #22 moved himself back into first after being demoted to third after setting a 1’29.685s. It was a strong day for Kawasaki with Rabat, who was very quick in testing at Cremona earlier in the year, taking fourth; the Spanish rider had posted a time good enough for P1 but it was deleted due to yellow flags. Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was tenth with all three ZX-10RR machines in the top ten.

PETRUCCI IN CONTENTION: close to P1, Bulega P3

Petrucci finished just 0.081s behind Lowes in a closely-fought session, with ‘Petrux’ aiming for a home win on home soil. His time of 1’29.766s was around seven tenths clear of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in third as ‘Bulegas’ looks to advantage of title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) being absent. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) moved into the top five with his final lap, demoting Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to sixth after the #1 set a 1’30.020s on his final lap. Just 0.004s separated Iannone and Bautista. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was 14^th with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in 15^th; the #14’s session was disrupted by a crash at Turn 11.

for @samlowes_22

Already on his way to the pits!#ItalianWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/dyuFVKKK0p

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 20, 2024

HONDA IN THE TOP TEN: Lecuona puts the CBR1000RR-R in P7

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) led Honda’s charge was he secured seventh place, the only rider on the CBR1000RR-R to take a top-ten spot. Teammate Xavi Vierge finished in 12^th while Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) was in 20^th. Wildcard Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) finished in 23^rd, with Ivo Lopes (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) last of the 25 riders. The Portuguese competitor had technical issues on his machine which interrupted his running.

GERLOFF LEADS BMW’S CHARGE: American in P8, van der Mark 11^th

American star Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) came into the Italian Round after two very good outings at Portimao and Magny-Cours, including a rostrum in the latter, and he led BMW’s charge on Friday. His 1’30.110s was just over four tenths off Alex Lowes’ time as he claimed eighth place, one place and 0.013s clear of teammate Scott Redding. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 11^th after his session was interrupted by a crash with Alessandro Delbianco (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), but he was still able to take P11. Markus Reiterberger (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), standing in for Razgatlioglu, was 18^th.

Couple of good rounds in Garrett Gerloff’s pocket! Will the Texan add Cremona to this collection?

We are still waiting for FP1’s bucket hat#ItalianWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/jc2AtuVP2W

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 20, 2024

NEW WINGS FOR YAMAHA: Locatelli P13 as fastest Yamaha rider

FP2 was the first dry session for Yamaha to run with their new wings, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) the fastest rider on the R1 machine. He claimed P13 with a 1’30.506s, while teammate Niccolo Canepa was 21^st as he stands in for Jonathan Rea. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 16^th, 0.937s off the pace, with his teammate Marvin Fritz (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in 24^th. Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was 17^th, but within a second of top spot, while Delbianco – racing as a wildcard alongside Ray – was 19^th and two tenths behind his teammate.

The top six from Friday at Cremona, full results here:

1. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’29.685s

2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.081s

3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.151s

4. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.291s

5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +0.331s

6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.335s

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Source: WorldSBK.com