Alvaro Bautista takes Friday’s best time at Portimao World Superbike – Ducati half a second ahead of the rest – Toprak Razgatlioglu only P8
Ducati factory rider Alvaro Bautista has set the fastest time in the second free practice session of the World Superbike Championship. The World Champion was fastest on the day, with 22 of the 25 riders setting their personal best time in FT2
World Championship challenger Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) only finished eighth in FT2, but didn’t let that dampen his spirits. On the run-out lap, the former champion created spectacular pictures when he jumped over the crest with his Yamaha R1.
In the FT1 on Friday morning (see training report), BMW rider Garrett Gerloff surprised everyone with the fastest time. For his 1:40.763 lap, Gerloff had a fresh rear tyre fitted, while the rest of the top riders did without this advantage.
FT2 began for Gerloff with a moment of shock. The US rider ran into fellow marque Gabriele Ruiu, had a slide and then clashed with Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94-Yamaha).
Contact between @7balda and Garrett Gerloff early in FP2 PRTWorldSBK pic. twitter.com/rsxOY7jJvx
– WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 29, 2023
Unfortunately, none of the participants came to a fall. Gerloff was to be one of three riders in FT2 who rode slower than in the morning.
Significantly faster than the rest: Alvaro Bautista dominates the action
After just ten minutes, half of the field was already faster than in the morning. Alvaro Bautista was in the lead for a long time, just like in the morning. The Spaniard rode consistently fast lap times and looked well prepared for the rest of the weekend.
Five minutes before the end of the session, Bautista ran into World Championship challenger Toprak Razgatlioglu on the track and was able to follow the Turk easily. After passing Razgatlioglu on the straight, Bautista went off the line and aborted his lap.
Ducati duo take more than half a second off the rest of the field
Bautista took the day’s best time with his 1’40.476 lap. First in line was Ducati teammate Michael Rinaldi, who came within 0.351 seconds. Kawasaki rider Jonathan Rea in third position was already more than half a second behind.
Remy Gardner was the best Yamaha rider. The Australian held on to fourth position, 0.546 seconds behind. Michael van der Mark was the best BMW rider in the afternoon and rounded off the Top 5.
✈️ @toprak_tr54 airlines in full flight! PRTWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/gKvWpDgY7u
– WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 29, 2023
Barni Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci followed in sixth position. The two factory Yamahas of Andrea Locatelli and Toprak Razgatlioglu followed in seventh and eighth. Garrett Gerloff was classified in P9. Dominique Aegerter (GRT-Yamaha) made a big step compared to the morning and ended up in P10. Iker Lecuona was the best Honda rider in eleventh.
Philipp Öttl (GoEleven-Ducati) could not confirm the good result from FT1 and slipped out of the Top 10. The German was 0.910 seconds behind in twelfth. FT2 was disappointing for Scott Redding. The BMW rider only finished the practice in 17th position.
