Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) led the way in the 15-minute Warm Up session for the Prometeon Italian Round as the final day of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship action got underway, while there was drama for the reigning Champion. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashed at Acque Minerali with just a few minutes left to bring his session to a premature end.

It’s been a stunning return to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola after Race 1’s incredible fight and all the Tissot Superpole session twists. 2021 Champion Razgatlioglu completed eight laps in Warm Up, in a single stint, as he set a best of 1’46.350s; the #54 was 0.054s clear of Bautista. The Spaniard was on a lap that potentially would have moved him into P1, but he crashed at the famous Acque Minerali with less than four minutes remaining in Warm Up. He was unable to re-join the session and completed just four laps. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) continued to show his pace at Imola as he took third, 0.195s down on Razgatlioglu.

Garrett Gerloff finishes Warm Up in P3 #ITAWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/dY8r6jpIJa

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) July 16, 2023

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fourth with a 1’46.837s while Race 1 podium finisher Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was fifth. Just 0.008s separated Rinaldi and Rea in the timesheets with the top five covered by less than half-a-second. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), one of several riders who led Race 1 on Saturday, took sixth as he set a 1’47.074s.

Rookie Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was another who continued to show his rapid Imola pace as he finished in seventh spot, less than half-a-tenth clear of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was ninth while Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was the second BMW rider to feature inside the top ten as he set a 1’47.475s to complete the first ten positions.

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who will start the Superpole Race from the front row, was 12^th in Warm Up. Swiss rookie Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was unable to set a lap time. He completed just a single out lap in Warm Up but didn’t record a time.

The top six from WorldSBK Warm Up, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 1’46.350s

2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 0.054s

3. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.195s

4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.487s

5. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.495s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.724s

Next up, the Tissot Superpole Race! Watch it all for half price using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com