SBK, Phillip Island test: Razgatlioglu demolishes the record, the Italian contingent close behind

With the start of the 2024 season just days away, the final day of Superbike winter testing proved to be particularly action packed. Toprak Razgatlioglu’s star again shone bright, with the rider setting his very best time towards the end of the day, and probably with the softest SC0 tyre. The Turk was able to put in an incredible fastest lap, completed in 1’28”511, particularly considering that the previous lap record was a 1’29”230, set by Tom Sykes on the BMW in 2020.

And so Toprak lays down the gauntlet, much like Nicolò Bulega, who has had an incredible winter. Despite a crash in the morning, the Italian again played a starring role, leading for a good part of the day before closing second overall, just 0.074 of a second behind Razgatlioglu. Italy also placed third with Andrea Locatelli, the strongest Yamaha rider by some margin, particularly if we consider Jonathan Rea placed just fifteenth.

Rea in pain, Lecuona out

The Northern Irish rider struggled after crashing through turn 11 during the morning. The rider returned to the track after having an injury to his left knee checked out at the medical centre. And Alvaro Bautista? Fast, but more than seventh tenths from the front. What stands out, aside from an innocuous crash at Siberia during the course of the morning’s session, is the extent to which the Spaniard is lagging behind right now, confirmation that he is not yet fully fit.

Andrea Iannone put in a very strong performance to finish fourth, the only rider in the top ten who was unable to improve on his morning’s best come the afternoon, and this despite a turn 4 crash during the morning. Alex Lowes rounds out the top five, while Axel Bassani closes tenth after making up several positions towards the end of the day. Sixth for Michael Rinaldi, with Danilo Petrucci twelfth. Difficulties for Honda, with Iker Lecuona forced to sit out the rest of the day after sustaining an AC joint injury through turn 11. And now the real challenge begins on Friday.

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