WorldSBK Estoril: Gerloff heads Yamaha charge for FP1

GRT Yamaha’s Garett Gerloff claimed the opening honours with a 1’36.572 as free practice fired up at circuit Estoril in Portugal on Friday.

Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatliolgu and Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista sat second and third with KRT’s Jonathan Rea beginning his Portuguese weekend from sixth in the standings.

Friday began with the walking wounded firmly back in the pack as Michael van der Mark, Eugene Laverty and Xavi Vierge had utilised the near month between races to recover their fitness. Roberto Tamburini, however, was out of action due to a right ankle fracture with Yamaha’s Marvin Fritz replacing on the Motoxracing R1. Issac Vinales joining Pedercini Kawasaki for the Portuguese race.

The red flags came out after six minutes of action as van der Mark’s BMW lay stricken in the middle of the track at turn ten with the Dutchman taken to the medical centre for checks before being transferred to hospital to review his still recovering right leg. Razgatlioglu headed the initial times with a 1’38.295, Axel Bassani and Scott Redding second and third after just three laps around the 4.2km layout.

Rea took charge as the session fired back up before Bautista immediately bettered thanks to the new 1’37.650 target. Gerloff was the next to climb the rankings, sitting second, 0.12s adrift of the Ducati ahead with Razgatlioglu, Redding and Rea behind. The Kawasaki circulating on the bubble of 1’38 with teammate Alex Lowes neatly behind in sixth.

The reigning champion was back at the top with 15 minutes dispatched as he pushed the pace to 1’37.457. Gerloff continuing to challenge on the GRT Yamaha as he maintained his position inside the top three with Lowes improving to fourth.

The top ten battle saw Bassani fending off