Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the fastest rider in Sunday morning Warm Up for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as he fended off Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) by just 0.103s in the 15-minute session. The pair were rapid from the start as they topped the times at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours as the final day of the Pirelli French Round got underway.
Bautista and Razgatlioglu were the quickest riders throughout the session with the reigning Champion setting a 1’36.183s for his best time and his rival just 0.103s slower. The #1 completed a nine-lap stint with the #54, who was quickest at points in Warm Up, running one fewer. They were joined in the top three by Tissot Superpole Race polesitter Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) with the American star continuing his fine French form with third.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed fourth and he was around six tenths slower than his teammate with the #21 leading fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in fifth. The two Italians were separated by a tenth with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) completing the top six despite a small crash. The #65 lost the front of his ZX-10RR machine at Turn 5 around five minutes into the session, but he was able to re-mount and, after his mechanics checked the bike in the box, returned to the track.
It was another strong day for BMW as Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed seventh, around a second slower than Bautista, while Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was right behind his fellow Brit. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) made it three BMWs inside the top ten with ninth and Phillip Oettl (Team GoEleven) completed the top ten.
The top six from WorldSBK Warm Up, full results here:
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’36.183s
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.103s
3. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.424s
4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.599s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.699s
6. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.808s
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Source: WorldSBK.com