Toprak tops opening day at Jerez WorldSBK test

WorldSBK was back in action on Wednesday as Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu topped the opening day of 2023 testing at Jerez.

The first of four days on the Iberian Peninsula saw a packed Jerez Circuit - Angel Nieto with 31 riders in attendance - Sam Lowes, David Muñoz and Ana Carrasco the notable additions from the MotoGP paddock.

Razgatlioglu headed the early times thanks to a 1’39.855 as the morning action got up to speed with 2022 Champion Alvaro Bautista and teammate Michael Rinaldo fresh from the Ducati launch and in hot pursuit.

Danilo Petrucci was quickly in the mix on his debut with the Barni Sparks satellite Ducati, the former MotoGP rider circulating in the top five from the outset as he got to grips with his WorldSBK-spec Panigale V4R after a season in MotoAmerica. While a raft of rookies got acquainted with their respective teams.

John McPhee kicked off his WorldSSP career with the Vince64 by Puccetti Racing team while Tom Sykes took a second look at the Kawasaki ZX-10RR having hit the track back in December with his own Puccetti squad.

Last-season-rivals Lorenzo Baldassarri and Dominique Aegerter began their promotions to the Superbike class with GMT94 and GRT Yamaha respectively, the latter alongside Australian Remy Gardner after the 2021 Moto2 Champion’s switch from a season in MotoGP.

KRT’s Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes waited until the afternoon before joining the action, the pair immediately running amongst the leading group in fourth and sixth, with Petrucci splitting the duo and Razgatlioglu remaining in charge, thanks to a slightly improved 1’39.587.

Bautista took control of the times with 90 minutes left of the afternoon. A 1’39.185 denying his teammate by 0.05s as the top six continued to switch