Razgatlioglu fastest as rain stops testing at Barcelona

2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu topped the test at Barcelona on Saturday after setting a 1’40.571 on the Pata Yamaha R1.

Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista continued his front-running pace on the Aruba.it machine in second place, both in the session and overall, with Honda’s new signing Iker Lecuona demoting Kawasaki stalwart Jonathan Rea out of the top three.

The final private WorldSBK test ahead of the 2022 season at Barcelona’s Catalunya Circuit came to a halt earlier than planned on day two as the rain arrived after just three hours of action. Razgatlioglu had managed to rack up just 33 laps on his way to overall command by that time, having spent the weekend working on a new electronics package and exhaust system alongside teammate Andrea Locatelli. The Italian completed Saturday’s session 11th, and 12th overall after a Friday highside curtailed his flying lap potential in the latter stages.

Ducati’s returning star, Bautista, maintained his prominence at the top of the timesheets on Saturday with a 1’40.952 best before the wet weather arrived. Just a tenth shy of his Friday pace, the Spaniard continued to test his Panigale V4R’s modified swingarm and a range of fork adjustments in preparation for round eight’s return.

Honda’s improvement was clear to see as Lecuona claimed his place in the top three with a 1’41.033. Xavi Vierge matching his teammate’s positive adjustment to both the new championship and the Fireblade by sitting eighth as the test concluded and tenth overall, on 1’41.7 pace.

With Kawasaki’s Rea and Alex Lowes dispatching the most laps during day one, the pair completed the running in fourth and eighth respectively in the combined times having focused on their detailed test programme rather than hot