Razgatlioglu breaks Phillip Island training record; Seventh Baptist

The Turk Toprak Razgatlioglu He warned other candidates for the crown of World Superbike with an Australian circuit record of Phillip Island in the final practice sessions before the start of the season, while Spaniard Álvaro Bautista, the defending champion, finished with the seventh best time.

Razgatlioglu, who moved from Yamaha, the brand with which he won the world championship in 2021, to bmwflew in the second session of the day to stop the clock in 1:28.511, the new best record on the ‘Aussie’ circuit, 74 thousandths better than the Italian Nicolo BulegaBautista’s official Ducati teammate, whose best lap time was 1:29.278.

Bautista, who still seemed uncomfortable in his mount, was one of the pilots who crashed to the ground. However, the Ducati team assured that they are calm while waiting for the Talavera native’s physical evolution and his adaptation to the track. Philip Islandwhere, on the other hand, the Spaniard won eight of the nine races he entered.

After a great fight between the first two at a record speed, the Italian also Andrea Locatelliwho now leads the Yamaha rankings, finished in third place with a time of 1:28.835, just ahead of his compatriot Andrea Iannone (Ducati) and from the British Alex Lowes (Kawasaki).

Jonathan Reawho after winning everything at Kawasaki will compete with the Pata Prometeon Yamaha team, set the fifteenth time with a 1:29.966 damaged by a fall, ahead only of the Spanish Honda Xavi Vierge (1:29.977), which included Iker Lecuona He was nineteenth with a 1:30.468 after not starting the second part of the day after injuring his left shoulder in another crash.

The World Superbike kicks off this weekend at the Australian circuit itself. On Friday the first practice sessions will take place, on Saturday the first race will be held and on Sunday the Superpole and the second.