First off, Phillip Island was a spectacular reminder of how fantastic WorldSBK can be in 2024. We have a depth of riding talent that surpasses anything in the history of the series. We have four manufacturers that are all capable of race wins this year. Australia was the perfect way to start a campaign that has been heralded as one of change and excitement. Seven riders on the rostrum, five riders leading laps and two surprise winners. This was exactly what we wanted to see but Phillip Island is Phillip Island: it’s a unique circuit and a unique set of circumstances for the opening round. That meant that there were some riders out of position that should be more competitive this weekend. It also meant that some riders were more competitive than they were expected to be.

BULEGA VS BAUTISTA, MASTER VS APPRENTICE: a new dynamic to watch out for

This weekend should be a bit more reflective of the pecking order and where the field stacks up. Montmelo might be a circuit on the doorstep of Provec Racing’s factory but this is Ducati country not Kawasaki country. The red bikes have won seven in a row and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is unbeaten on the Panigale V4R. This year will be more of a challenge for the reigning World Champion. His teammate, Nicolo Bulega was lightning fast at last week’s two-day test whilst Bautista struggled. Bulega, pole sitter in Australia, will be a short-priced favourite for Superpole once again but it was his pace that will have worried Bautista more than his raw speed. 

During the test, Bautista seemed to do longer runs than his teammate but the balance of the Ducati wasn’t what he needed. A crash on his time-attack showed where his form was during the test but race weekends are a different animal. Catalunya is one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar for tyre consumption so high 1m41’s are the times to beat during a race. Being consistent around this mark for as long as possible will be key to winning races. Bulega, who also suffered a crash, had a small step over Bautista for these but race conditions bring out the best in the Spaniard.

KAWASAKI AND BMW: tougher times in Barcelona for Lowes and Razgatlioglu?

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Championship leader coming into this weekend, focused on tyre wear and longer runs in the test. Single lap pace won’t be what keeps the Englishman close to the front so crew chief Pere Riba was focused on making sure they worked to their own strategy rather than focusing on anyone else. The improvements from Kawasaki over the winter allowed Lowes to have the best weekend of his WorldSBK career last time out but Montmelo will be better circuit to judge the ZX-10RR on. Progress has been made but has it been enough?

BMW’s progress over the winter has been well documented. They shocked everyone at Round 1 but with a high grip track surface, the issues they expected to have in Australia didn’t materialise. In testing, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was stunning last week and narrowly missed out on topping the times despite a fall. When the grip is there, the BMW M 1000 RR is a weapon with the Turkish rider. When the grip isn’t there, it’s been more of a struggle. This weekend will be a real test for BMW to show where they’ll stack up throughout the season. Toprak will win races over the next few rounds but the feature length races this weekend will be tough.

YAMAHA’S EFFORTS: Rea to respond, Locatelli still strong

In the blue corner, Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and teammate Andrea Locatelli are two of the most interesting riders to keep an eye on. During testing, their times were remarkably similar. There’s not a lot to choose between them but Rea will be much more competitive this weekend. After a non-score last time out, it goes without saying he’s hit rock bottom because in Barcelona, he’ll be in the fight again. The chatter issues at Phillip Island could be very circuit specific but this weekend, it’s up to Rea to prove that and put the doubters to bed. Round 1 was a disaster but with a pitstop issue in Race 1 and the crash in Race 2 his Superpole Race was probably more reflective of where he was; P10. Not good enough for Rea and Yamaha but this week, the top five would show plenty of progress even if a podium is their stated aim.

DUCATI THE FAVOURITES: Barcelona is their happy hunting ground

The reason for that goal being so modest is that Ducati are going to be so tough to beat this week. Bulega, Bautista, Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will all expect to have moments in the sun. During testing it was Rinaldi that was at the back of the Ducati train but he’s a four-time podium man and a race winner here. If he’s not competitive, you can expect to see some fireworks in the Team Motocorsa Racing pit box.

FINAL THOUGHTS: a classic venue ready for a classic race

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built as part of Barcelona’s Olympic bid in 1991. Like the Olympics, it’s about having an all-round package if you want to challenge for the win. Ducati has the most complete bike in WorldSBK and it would be a shock if they don’t walk away with the wins this weekend. That being said it’s a roll of the dice as to who will be standing on the top step.

EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from the Catalunya Round with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

A few weeks on from the unforgettable Australian Round that opened the FIM Supersport World Championship in phenomenal fashion, the riders are ready to go again as the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts Round 2 of 2024. There’s plenty to enjoy during the Pirelli Catalunya Round, with the WorldSSP Challenge riders starting their campaigns while it will also see the debut of a brand-new manufacturer, the seventh to compete this season.

MONTELLA LEADING THE WAY: can anyone stop the #55?

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was unbeatable in Australia, securing a majestic double to lead the way in the early stages of the season. He faces fierce competition from Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) as he looks to bounce back from crashes Down Under, while Barcelona is a circuit MV Agusta machines enjoyed last year: four podiums shared between Bahattin Sofuoglu and Marcel Schroetter, including a win for the #54, put the Italian manufacturer in good stead for 2024. Sofuoglu is the only previous WorldSSP winner at the circuit on the 2024 grid.

LOTS OF FAST RIDERS IN BARCELONA: it’s game on in Catalunya…

The Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team tasted victory here last year too in the hands of Nicolo Bulega, so will the team be on the top step with Adrian Huertas this year? Of course, at a track that often throws up surprises, don’t be too shocked if another name appears at the top. Perhaps Lorenzo Baldassarri (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) or someone else will fight for victory with Montella facing stiff competition for the top step.

A NEW MANUFACTURER: QJ Motor the seventh brand in 2024, ninth overall

QJ Motor’s highly anticipated debut will occur in Barcelona, with Raffaele De Rosa (QJ Motor Factory Racing) onboard the SRK 800 RR machine from the Chinese manufacturer. They join Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, Triumph, MV Agusta and Kawasaki on the grid to bring the total to seven for this season as they compete in the WorldSSP Challenge. They are also the first manufacturer from China to race in WorldSSP, making history as they go in search of success, utilising the skills of class veteran De Rosa.

WorldSSP CHALLENGE STARTS: six riders start their season

De Rosa’s first appearance of 2024 starts the WorldSSP Challenge campaign along with several other riders. Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) gets his first race of the year on the F3 800 RR machine, as does Tom Edwards (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team) on the Panigale V2. Gabrielle Giannini (Team ProDina Kawasaki), Simone Corsi (Renzi Corse) and Federico Fuligni (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) are also in action to start their season.

WILDCARDS AND RIDER NEWS: two returning names to the Championship

Alongside the 32 riders on the full-time grid, there will be two wildcards who bring the total number to 34 for the Catalunya Round. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Altogo Racing Team) returns to WorldSSP after his half-season campaign last season, but he didn’t race in Barcelona after starting his season at Most. It’s also a return to WorldSSP for Eugene James McManus, who will ride a Panigale V2 machine for the ROKiT Haslam Racing. Previously, the Irish rider competed with three different manufacturers in his 10 races: Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Triumph, adding Ducati to an impressive list. Elsewhere, after missing the Australian Round through injury, Piotr Biesiekirski (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) will need to pass a medical check to race as he looks to finally make his WorldSSP debut.

EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from the Catalunya Round using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship bursts back into action at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and it’s going to be a thriller in Spain, plus WorldSSP300’s season starts in style. The Pirelli Catalunya Round is Round 2, with action starting from 09:40 Local Time (UTC+1) on Friday; WorldSBK FP1 is 10:20. Afternoon action kicks off at 14:10 with WorldSSP300 Superpole, followed by WorldSBK FP2 at 15:00 and WorldSSP Superpole at 16:00. On Saturday, WorldSBK FP3 starts the day at 09:00 followed by Superpole at 11:00. Then, it’s straight into racing: WorldSSP300 Race 1 at 12:45, WorldSBK Race 1 at 14:00 and WorldSSP Race 1 at 15:15. On Sunday, Warm Up sessions start from 09:00 before the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race at 11:00, before the afternoon’s racing follows the same schedule as Saturday: WorldSSP300 Race 1 starts at 12:45, WorldSBK Race 1 at 14:00 and WorldSSP Race 1 at 15:15.

THE NEW ERA CONTINUES: watch every moment from Barcelona LIVE and UNINTERRUPTED using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Friday, 22^nd March (all times Local Time, UTC+1)
09:40-10:05 – WorldSSP300 Free Practice
10:20-11:05 – WorldSBK Free Practice 1
11:20-12:00 – WorldSSP Free Practice
14:10-14:35 – WorldSSP300 Tissot Superpole
15:00-15:45 – WorldSBK Free Practice 2
16:00-16:40 – WorldSSP Tissot Superpole

Saturday, 23^rd March
09:00-09:20 – WorldSBK Free Practice 3
09:30-09:40 – WorldSSP300 Warm Up
09:50-10:00 – WorldSSP Warm Up
11:00-11:15 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
12:45 – WorldSSP300 Race 1 (12 laps)
14:00 – WorldSBK Race 1 (20 laps)
15:15 – WorldSSP Race 1 (18 laps)

Sunday, 24^th March
09:00-09:10 – WorldSBK Warm Up
09:20-09:30 – WorldSSP300 Warm Up
09:40-09:50 – WorldSSP Warm Up
11:00 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race (10 laps)
12:45 – WorldSSP300 Race 2 (12 laps)
14:00 – WorldSBK Race 2 (20 laps)
15:15 – WorldSSP Race 2 (18 laps)

Source: WorldSBK.com

Europe welcomes the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is the stage for the second round of the season. Down Under for the opener, it was a topsy-turvy start to the season as favourites fumbled and outsiders proved outstanding but will the order reset amidst a backdrop of stunning scenery, Gaudi architecture and beautiful beaches? The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya often throws up a surprise and 2024 shouldn’t be any different. 

THE SURPRISES FROM ROUND 1: can they keep up their form?

As far as debuts go, it was certainly emphatic for Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who won his first ever WorldSBK race, a flag-to-flag at that. He was also under the existing lap recording in the Barcelona test, underlining his strength over one lap once more. However, with no other podiums and him being beaten up in the opening laps in Australia, it’s Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who leads the way to Barcelona thanks to a fine Sunday double in Australia. Leading the way and with just a single point between them, it looks like ‘Bulegas’ – on paper – should have the advantage over Lowes with the Ducati historically stronger in Barcelona than the Kawasaki, even if Lowes made race pace gains during the test. 

Then, there’s Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) who got a rostrum at the track last year and after a mega impressive opening round, he and new crew chief Tom O’Kane will be working in Barcelona together for the first time. Phillip Island was very much a rise of the ‘number two’ riders and after a strong test last week, it could be more of the same. With low grip always a factor and something he relished before, Andrea Iannone’s (Team GoEleven) thunderous start to his new WorldSBK adventure will continue at a circuit he knows well; a solid test a week ago, will ‘The Maniac’ feature once more? As for Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), a maiden BMW podium in Australia was a highlight but Race 2 engine issues were not. Competitive at the test last week and under the lap record, will BMW’s previously weakest track be kinder in 2024?

DISCOUNT BAUTISTA AT YOUR PERIL: no win in 2024, yet…

Barcelona and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati); they’ve made history for the last two years at the track and he was even competitive in his struggling years at Honda. This year is different – his own words after the test too; he didn’t clear off into the distance Down Under and couldn’t manage his tyres as usual, two things that have gone hand-in-hand in terms of Barcelona brilliance. Six dominant wins from the last six Catalan races, Bautista – now back to almost full fitness – may still be the favourite. Someone else who ended Phillip Island strongly and is always a force in Barcelona is Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) as he chases a first podium with Lorenzo Mauri’s team. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) has his second round at a circuit he’s familiar with, as Ducati’s strengths always come good in Barcelona. He was a star in the test, so watch out for #14.

TIME FOR REA-VENGE? The season starts here for #65

No points from his first three races in Yamaha, declared unfit after a huge Race 2 crash and leaving Australia downbeat: Jonathan Rea’s (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) debut in blue left him feeling exactly that and a bit bruised too. However, the six-time World Champion knows how to get stuck in and fight and after riding in Barcelona’s two-day test last week, he’s back to remind everyone of his pace. He’s won in Barcelona on two occasions before with Kawasaki whilst Yamaha have only one once in 2020. The persistent and relentless chatter problem have gone after the test last week so expect Rea to return to the fore for round two to get his season up and running. It’ll also be a first chance to see Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) back after being declared unfit in Australia; he was on pole in 2022 for Honda and was in the top four last year, a circuit where he and Xavi Vierge always feature well at. 

OTHERS IN THE TOP 10: Petrucci prowess and more

Sixth place overall in the Championship is Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) but he had a Barcelona to forget in 2023, one of his worst rounds of the season. After a podium last time out in Race 2, he’s in good form and found a soft tyre breakthrough in the test. He’s just ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who was very impressive in round one considering he’d had no testing prior to touching down in Australia. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is just behind teammate Toprak in P9 and just ahead of Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) in P10, with three BMWs inside the top ten of the Championship standings for the first time ever. 

ELSEWHERE: Bassani, Gardner and Redding look for luck and a step

Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is still adapting to the inline four of the ZX-10RR and after further testing and steps forward in the test with the help of Marco Melandri, could be in the top ten battle in Barcelona – where he took a first podium in 2021. Remy Gardner’s (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) P15 overall in the standings isn’t representative of his pace, with him being taken out of Race 1 by Bassani before hitting Rea’s debris from his Race 2 crash, leaving him down field. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) has never enjoyed Barcelona on a BMW but will hope to change that this year, having won at the track three years ago. 

Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) and Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) are the final riders who come into the round with points already on the board, with Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Petronas MIE Racing Honda duo Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin searching for their first of 2024 – along with the aforementioned Rea and Lecuona.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Testing is all done from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the second round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship awaits. An action-packed test with stories up and down the pitlane made for very interesting reading. A new rivalry in prospect, new tech on show and test riders in abundance, all five manufacturers had multiple stories to tell.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Alvaro’s a motivation… your teammate is always the first one you want to beat”

Under the lap record, Nicolo Bulega was on the pace once again in testing: “I tried for the 1’39 but in the afternoon, after lunch, the track condition was worse with more humidity; I think it was more difficult. I don’t feel pressure; it gives me a lot of motivation and makes me proud. It’s important to me because when you’re fast, you understand that we’re working in a good direction with my team. Alvaro here is very, very fast; last year, he was incredible! If I can try to stay in front of him, it can be an incredible result for me. Normally, when you have a strong teammate, it’s always good for the other one. It’s good to have Alvaro, he’s a motivation and your teammate is always the first one you want to beat for everybody. You have the same bike, team and for sure, if I can stay in front of him or him in front of me, it’s a good motivation.”

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “Paul’s been amazing, an integral part… I feel like we can fight for a podium”

Talking about all things Yamaha, Jonathan Rea stated: “Since I’ve joined, Paul Denning’s been amazing. You think the issues and results we had at Phillip Island people would be a bit flat. It’s where I felt the strength in my previous team was, where you think the chips are down and people start looking at you to make the difference. This team’s amazing, it’s the same or better where people get behind you and Paul’s an integral part of bringing that atmosphere. He always gets involved, wants to know what’s going on, which is nice. It’s always nice to please the boss. You feel a bit like a dog: you always want to please your owner… that’s what it’s like as a motorbike rider, you always want to please your team manager and crew chief and make people happy. I feel like a dog, basically! I want to finish three races and score good, strong points. To race for the win here, we need some improvements. I feel like we can fight for a podium.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I tried many new parts… finally, I feel very good with the grip. We’re ready to race!”

Making a decision about what swingarm he prefers, Toprak Razgatlioglu said: “For P1, I was very close but anyway, I’m very happy. Today, we focused on race pace and finally, I feel very good with the grip. I did a short, 11-lap race simulation with all the laps in the 1’41s. After, when I felt the bike was ready for the race, I put two Q tyres at the end of the day and the second one, I rode a little bit better. My last run was three laps and I did 1’40.1s, 1.40.4 and 1.40.8, which is good. In general, I’m happy and so is the team; we found some good grip and we’re ready to race. The last run was with the old swingarm but with a different shock, the new front forks, different linkage so I tried many parts. Old and new swingarms are close but I’m happier with the old one. It’s a small change, maybe psychological but I’m happy anyway. It’s my dream to win here because I’ve never won here, the tyre is so important. I’ll try to do my best!”

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “The feeling with the bike wasn’t very good… this year is different”

A Turn 10 fall and losing the positive feeling of day one, Alvaro Bautista struggled: “We ended not how we expected to; since this morning, I felt it was more difficult than yesterday as there was less grip. I had this feeling all day and the feeling with the bike was not very good. Physically I am back, but yesterday I improved my feeling during the day, but today I started worse than yesterday and never got that feeling back. Especially on turning, with the gas, I struggled a lot and I had to use my strength. The rear grip was not too high either, I was spinning a lot. That was my main problem, the rear didn’t help me, so I struggled a lot. One thing is the test, and another is the race weekend. In last season’s test, I felt much better and the pace was much stronger. This year is different. Physically, I’m OK after my crash; Bulega’s time is not bad, he’s very strong in one lap”.

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven): “It’s just the beginning… we have good potential”

‘The Maniac’ was on his fourth different track and once again, fast and inside the top four: “The goal is always similar, I’m a rookie here and it’s just the beginning. Everyday I learn something, tyres, setup, electronics… Every test and every day is much better for me, because I started very far. Everyone here have been riding non-stop for 20 years, I stopped four years, and it’s not easy to recover. But I’m happy. We have a good potential, but the race is always the race. Generally, in the test I struggle more than in the race, but we will see.”

Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “I can say I prefer the old swingarm”

Going back to an older spec, underslung swingarm, Iker Lecuona – who still isn’t fully fit – spoke about his latest feeling with the Honda: “We tried the new items which are a question for us; I could take data for the team, which is positive. The second day felt more comfortable on the bike so it was less painful for the shoulder but in the end, the last run was more aggressive and braking for Turn 10, it was more painful and it felt like a big punch in the shoulder. I said ‘OK, let’s finish for today’; at the end, it wasn’t nice to not do many laps but now it’s time to recover and be ready for next week. I can say I prefer the old swingarm; we need to confirm that with the data because we need to change more items on the bike to use it, as it’s old but it has some positive points that right now, we need to talk to the team and the Japanese engineers, to see if we can use it or not and what we need to do to feel more comfortable.”

Michele Pirro (Ducati Superbike Test Team): “I tried different solutions for Alvaro’s weight, engine parts and bike balance… I hope to come to WorldSBK once or twice”

Part of the Ducati Superbike test team, Michele Pirro detailed what he tried and why we could see him again soon: “It’s after a long time that I come back to WorldSBK, in fact, five years! It was a good impression because I used the Panigale V4 R and Pirellis. I got data to try and help Alvaro and others but also to develop the bike for the future. The other manufacturers push very hard and the level is very high. I tried different solutions for the weight of Alvaro, engine parts and the balance of the bike. I wasn’t so far away from the fast riders, so I’m happy with the first test with a Superbike after a while. I hope I continue with Superbike, maybe another test, perhaps at Misano. Maybe I want to come back for some races but we’ll see! I enjoyed it and we’ll check with Ducati! I enjoyed it with the other riders too; maybe this year, it’s not possible for me to do a wildcard in MotoGP™ and I hope to come to WorldSBK once or twice. I see Nicolo very well; he’s riding well, a good guy and fast. It’s very impressive, also the other riders but Nicolo is a good talent and a very good rider.”

Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “If we start from row two or three, we can fight for a good position”

Axel Bassani completed two days of testing for Kawasaki, finishing 16^th on combined times and struggled until the end, when he found form: “During the day, it was the same as day one; yesterday: we found something in the last three laps which is good because finally, we arrived with a race tyre to do a really good lap, better than with the SCQ. We need to start from here to understand things for the race weekend. It’s not easy but it’s part of the job; we are here, we need to test and we’re doing it. We found some confidence with the front but we have to work a lot on the rear with the turning on the bike. We’re losing a lot of time in the long corners. I’m looking to do a good Superpole because if you start in P15 or P16, then it’s impossible to fight with the top guys. If we start from row two or three, we can fight for a good position.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had a mixed day of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, finishing in ninth place with a best time of 1’40.985s but suffering two crashes when he lost the front, damaging his ZX-10RR. The first crash occurred just before the halfway point of Day 2, which featured a slow start due to overnight rain, with riders generally heading out an hour into the day which began at 10:00 Local Time (UTC+1). He was still optimistic despite the crashes, after his strong race pace he showed throughout the test.

The Championship leader was one of the exceptions to riders not going out early, with the #22 one of the first to head out, around 45 minutes into the day, for a couple of expletory laps. He then began his testing programme in earnest, racking up 77 laps as he finished in the top ten for KRT, once again leading their charge as the Championship leader looks to continue his strong form from Australia after his double Down Under in the season-opener.

Explaining his crash and his day, Lowes, who ventured out on track around an hour after, said: “It was good and busy. I worked a lot today. It’s always hard because people are putting tyres in. I did a race simulation, trying to look after the tyres especially the front; this track seems quite low grip and critical on the front. I was happy with my consistency in the race run, it was certainly a lot better than last year with similar conditions. We’re making steps forward but so’s everyone else. I was happy enough. The steps we made with the bike were good. I used a SCQ at the end, but the second last exit wasn’t really ready for it, so my three laps were all the same. I didn’t go any faster on the Q. My crashes were just small front-end crashes. They were my fault. We’re trying stuff on the bike, electronics, so maybe the setting we had didn’t work.”

Overall, across the two days, the British rider racked up nearly 150 laps, with the four-time race winner focusing a lot of his time on the Catalunya Round next week, declaring after Day 1 he had an improved feeling at this venue compared to other years. His two crashes on Friday were his third of the test, following a slow spill at Turn 10 when on 18-lap old tyres on Day 1. Despite his three falls, he was optimistic about the upcoming round.

He added: “I think my pace is good, but until we get there, we don’t know. It’s been good because, Australia with the new surface was really grippy and this is one of the least grippy tracks. It’s important to come here, get a feel for the stuff we tried in the winter; the electronics and the setting, more the setting than the software as it’s a lot different to last year. I’m a lot happier now I know it works. I did the race simulation today; I’ve got the experience of that. We’re definitely better prepared even though I had a couple of crashes. I’m happier after the test than before the test because we didn’t know what to expect.”

What can Alex Lowes achieve next week during the Catalunya Round? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The Supported Test for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field concluded on Friday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a disrupted day due to overnight rain leaving the circuit damp. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) went a tenth under the existing lap record, as did Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in the final hour of the day to ensure he remained on top for yet another test day with the pair separated by almost nothing.

DUCATI ON TOP: lap record pace for Bulega, as Petrucci found something on softer tyres?

Bulega was once again under a lap record as he set a 1’40.172s to snatch top spot away from Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) initially, with the #9 running in P1 until Bulega usurped him with around 45 minutes left to go under the existing record of 1’40.264s set by his teammate last year in the Tissot Superpole session. Despite Petrucci’s strong pace, two technical problems earlier in the day as well as a crash when on course to improve his time disrupted the Barni Ducati rider’s plans. He was able to show impressive speed across a range of tyres, initially moving up to fourth on the standard SCX but with the new front tyre from Pirelli before he was usurped by Bulega. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put his Panigale V4 R in 16^th place, more than a second back from ‘Bulegas’, while Michele Pirro, for the test team, was also inside the top ten. Bautista had a small crash at Turn 10 in the final stages of the day, with the left-hand corner catching a few riders out.

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) was fourth and quick at yet another circuit; this time, one he hasn’t been to on a Superbike machine, although an issue at Turn 5 in the final half an hour impacted him. Despite this, he returned to the track afterwards and found time to claim P4, while Sam Lowes claimed seventh on another strong day for the rookie. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was in tenth place, posting a 1’41.020s, with the #21 starting his test later than others as he waited for the track to dry up.

RAZGATLIOGLU P2 AS LEAD BMW: will the Turk be in the mix come the round?

Despite finishing just shy of top spot, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was the lead BMW rider, taking second place and, like Bulega, going under the lap record with a 1’40.199s and completing 75 laps. The #54 is still searching for more engine brake on his M 1000 RR machine, while he also compared two different swingarms today. Teammate Michael van der Mark was narrowly inside the top ten with the Dutchman attempting both a time attack and a race simulation on Day 2. Both Bonovo Action BMW riders finished outside the top ten, with Garrett Gerloff in 12^th and Scott Redding in 17^th.

REA IN THE TOP THREE: another strong day as Rea builds confidence again

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was quick on Day 1 and continued that on Day 2 with fifth place, setting a 1’40.772s and finishing only 0.6s off Bulega’s best time. With the test about allowing the #65 to re-find his confidence, it looks like he’ll be fighting at the sharp end at next week’s round. Teammate Andrea Locatelli, suffering pain in his knee from his Australia Race 2 highside, was inside the top six following a late improvement, despite a technical issue in the final couple of hours, but and less than a tenth off his teammate. It was a strong day for the GYRT GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team too, with Remy Gardner often inside the top five but dropping to P11 after his day concluded 30 minutes early and Dominique Aegerter in contention two places behind. Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) made progress from Day 1 as he climbed to 21^st place, 2.1 seconds away from P1, with Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) the last of the Yamaha riders in 23^rd.

TWO CRASHES FOR ALEX LOWES: on top at KRT despite a couple of tumbles

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was again Kawasaki’s top rider at the test, but his day was disrupted by two crashes. The first came at Turn 5 in the morning while the second was at Turn 10 in the afternoon; on this occasion, he was able to ride back to the pits. His best time was a 1’40.985s with 77 laps completed. On the other side of the box, Axel Bassani, still working with Marco Melandri during this test, was outside the top ten after setting a 1’41.551s and racking up 78 laps. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was just behind the #47 after the Spaniard spent Day 1 working on race simulations, with Rabat taking 18^th place.

TRICKY FOR HONDA: outside the top ten, Lecuona ends day early

Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) was the lead Honda rider again on Day 2 of the test, with the Japanese manufacturer battling back from a difficult Day 1 where they had technical problems with both riders at the same time. Vierge finished in 19^th place with a best time of 1’41.804s, while teammate Iker Lecuona was almost a second down on the #97. Next door at the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda outfit, Tarran Mackenzie worked with new crew chief Mick Shanley for the second day, after declaring Day 1 to be one of his most enjoyable and productive days. He was in 22^nd place with a best time of 1’42.371s, while teammate Adam Norrodin was around 0.8s back from the Brit.

The top ten from Day 2 in Barcelona. Full Day 2 results HERE and combined results HERE:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’40.172s

2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.027s

3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.429s

4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +0.490s

5. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.600s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.676s

7. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.772s

8. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.789s

9. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.813s

10. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) +0.848s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was one of the stand-out names on Day 2 of the Supported Test as he finished in third place, after running in top spot during the afternoon before being demoted by Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). However, his day wasn’t simple at all, with two technical issues and a crash hampering his progress but he was still able to show impressive speed to be towards the front at a track he hasn’t enjoyed strong results at in the past.

He initially went into the top four using a combination of the standard SCX tyre and the new front SC1, but then went even faster on the SCQ later to set a 1’40.801s and claim first place provisionally, although he was moved into second place by Bulega’s lap-record breaking pace and then a place further by Razgatlioglu. Despite the red-hot lap times, Petrucci had two technical issues and a crash which cost him valuable running time at a circuit where he took 12^th in Race 2 here last year, and a best in MotoGP™ of third in 2019, although he was generally in the lower end of the top ten throughout his career here.

Discussing his issues and crash, he said: “The first part was not busy, because I pushed the bike out of the gravel a couple of times. We had a problem with this morning, a bit of rain and we waited a bit, and then we had this issue with the number one bike. We had to start the day quite late but then we’ve been able to recover so well. I was worried about my lap time with the SCX and the SCQ. I could’ve been better but, on the second attempt, I crashed at Turn 10. On the second try, I put on another tyre because I wanted to do a Superpole Race simulation with the qualifying tyre, and I was improving my lap time, but I crashed at Turn 10.”

Despite the issues plaguing him on Friday, he’ll be in a confident mood heading into the Catalunya Round as he looks to add to his podium tally. Although he was unable to complete a race simulation on Day 2 due to the lost time, ‘Petrux’ explained how he felt like the team were in a good way heading back into next week’s round.

He added: “Because we didn’t have so much time, we wanted to try a race simulation, but we were unable. I think we’re in good shape. The tyre wear here is the main thing so you can be fast, but you need to be faster at the end of the race as your pace can drop one or two seconds. I’m satisfied. I’m happy because I’m trying to understand the tyre. It’s really good to go with a lot of speed inside the corner and Bulega is really good at it. I need to try to smoother on the throttle and carry more speed in the corner. I did the lap time with the new front tyre, and I like it. I was a little bit overriding the bike and I was really trusting the front tyre too much, because it was so good!”

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There’s been a small staff shuffle at the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda team for 2024, with Tarran Mackenzie getting a new crew chief for his debut MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season. The #95 will now work with Mick Shanley, who has been in the team for a small period of time, as he will take on two roles in the team as he continues his work as Technical Director while working alongside Mackenzie.

Day 1 of the Supported Test was Shanley’s first day working with Mackenzie at the track as his crew chief. Mackenzie finished the day in 22^nd place, posting a best time of 1’43.154s. The day was spent getting mileage for the Stirling-born star as well as understanding working with Shanley directly, while it was the same for Shanley in his new role. Previously, Mackenzie’s crew chief had been Antonio Puchades.

Explaining the change and how he thinks it’ll benefit him, Mackenzie said: “I’ve had a change of crew chief, which has been a major step. Mick’s now the crew chief. It’s been a step for me, he’s English speaking and I’ve known him for a long time. He started on Thursday. That’s been a good thing. It was more a team decision I think, just something that suits me a little bit. Speaking the same language helps a lot, Mick’s got a lot of experience, comes from a similar background to me with BSB. I’ve known him a long time but also worked with him a bit last year in WorldSSP. It’s been a nice change.”

Shanley brings plenty of experience to Mackenzie’s box, having previously been a crew chief in WorldSBK for several teams and manufacturers. Some of the riders he’s worked with include Lucas Mahias and Loris Baz while he’s also worked at Shaun Muir Racing. He will continue in his role as Technical Director alongside his new job as Crew Chief, with Shanley seeing positives in working closely with Honda as well as Mackenzie.

Explaining his new dual role, Shanley said: “I’m kind of in a double role at the moment! We made some decisions in the team to try and help Tarran get a bit more comfortable. The communication style was probably a bit more difficult at the start of the season, and I won the job of moving in to help Tarran out and getting him to feel a bit more comfortable and confident. I’ve done 12 months out of it, with the overview, but it’s good to have the relationship with HRC and the rider as well; be a bit more in touch, closely, with what’s happening with the bike. I’m still Technical Director as the link to HRC, it keeps me hands on in all aspects! It’s busy, very busy, but I’m enjoying it. I think, obviously, we don’t want to upset things and to find a good level crew chief at this time of year is difficult. It’ll probably be me that’ll handle it for the rest of the season to keep continuity and a stable base and step by step, hopefully, keep growing the performance level.”

With Day 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Shanley’s first day in the role, Mackenzie explained how It was a positive opening day, saying: “It was good, probably the most productive and enjoyable day since I’ve ridden the Superbike. The bike is exactly the same as Phillip Island. I struggled a little bit there, just more so with track time than anything. I haven’t done a million miles around this track, so it was just about getting up to speed but yesterday was probably the most positive day and I was a lot closer to the guys in front. I was happy with that. Nothing new to try on Day 2, just different geometry settings and trying to make me more comfortable.”

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Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) second round as a BMW rider is fast approaching but a test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya gives opportunity for vital preparation for the weekend. Always a track which has been challenging for BMW, with a lack of grip and rear-wheel spinning a problem, it is pivotal that BMW – along with the other manufacturers – work hard to get their bikes in an optimal operating window.

The day didn’t start particularly well for the 27-year-old Turk, who crashed at Turn 10 under braking. He was able to get up to his feet and ride the bike back but the #54 M 1000 RR was quite damaged. However, he was soon dusted down and back out on track; with two bikes available, there were two different swingarms spotted – the Kalex one which was used in Australia and a newer, street-model derived version which has been seen before at various tests. Setting 62 laps and inside the top three for most of the afternoon on his way to second – when the track was at its best of the day – Razgatlioglu was satisfied at the end of day one.

FIRST FALLER: “I had a small crash at Turn 10, trying to fix the engine braking”

Reviewing the day and about how it went, the 2021 World Champion said: “I had a small crash at Turn 10, trying to fix the engine braking. The rear locked a bit, released, the rear was sliding and then came back again and pushed me into the corner and then I fell. The crash was slow but the bike was destroyed. I saw some parts! I got back out to try and fix the rear grip but I’m still not 100%, especially here. Entry it’s OK but the exit with the opening of the gas, it spins a lot. At Yamaha, I can remember that it had better grip and with BMW, we found a way and tomorrow, we’ll work more and I hope to feel better. I have traction, no problem; there’s just no grip.”

Focussing on the BMW side as a whole, he said: “With the team’s side, it’s similar to Yamaha but on the manufacturer side, I see a lot more people from the factory. At Yamaha, I never saw Japanese guys. Just Italian and British guys. Here, there’s a lot of German guys because the project is very important for these guys. What I need, they immediately make. I always say I need more engine braking and these guys make new software just for me. What I need, BMW make it; it’s direct with the factory.”

Talking about using the newer-style swingarm and outlining the plan for day two in Barcelona, he continued: “I used the new swingarm; the plan is that we’ll use the old swingarm tomorrow to understand the grip because it’s bad. With the Q tyre, we’ll have more grip but I’m still feeling the tyre spinning.”

GONSCHOR ON BMW TEST PROGAMME: “We have the potential of the bike”

Speaking earlier in the day, Chris Gonschor, BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s technical director, spoke of the testing with the various swingarms: “I’m sure we don’t have to talk about the distribution but we’re working on the rear end of the bike, as was the case in Portimao and during the Phillip Island tests too. It already started in January. We want to calm down and optimise corner exit and stabilise corner entry. Getting out of the corner more stabilised and more under control; it’s obvious the swingarm was part of this evaluation but like always, it’s just one part.”

Attention then turned to the wider test goals and the low grip situation that Barcelona always offers: “The test target is like always; using the track time we have in these perfect conditions here in Barcelona. I’m glad that we have the test and race together in March. The test team will focus on development like always – without going into detail – and the race team full focused on the race operation. This opportunity is a perfect time to prepare for the weekend. We’re looking forward to the race weekend. This track is completely different to Phillip Island in terms of grip as here has less. We’re not afraid of the circumstances and to get stuck in; we have the potential of the bike and the ingredients we put in bring us into the working window and we’ll concentrate on getting the best out of it. I’m fully motivated like the rest of the team to work here, race next week and get important data.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com