SBK - Superbike World Championship

09/19/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/19/2021 01:45

Rea prevails in Red-Flagged Warm-Up at Catalunya, Razgatlioglu sixth

With the Championship lead changing again on Saturday, all eyes are on the title fight on Sunday…

The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship kicked off on Sunday morning under blissful sunny skies at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the final day of action ignited at the Hyundai N Catalunya Round. Sunday morning Warm-Up was interrupted with just under nine minutes to go as Race 1 podium finisher Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) suffered a big crash at Turn 1. Once the session resumed, it was Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who finished on top and taking the advantage going into Sunday's two races.

Jonathan Rea made hay whilst the sun shone in Warm-Up, setting the fastest time of the session and just 0.175s quicker than second-placed Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), with the Italian doing much better in the dry. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) made sure the Italian contingency was going strong up in third, whilst it was Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who was fourth as he looks to bounce back after Saturday's disappointment. Completing the top five with a fast, flying lap at the end was Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC).

Sitting in sixth after the opening session of the day, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) had a solid morning, just ahead of Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) who was the next Ducati and able to pip of pole-sitter Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was ninth ahead of Leon Haslam (Team HRC), with the two British riders completing the top ten. Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who finished fifth in Race 1, was 11th in Warm-Up, whilst Axel Bassani ended up in 14th after the Red Flag.

Top six after Warm-Up in WorldSBK, full results here:

1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1'41.711
2. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +0.175s
3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.271s
4. Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.369s
5. Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) +0.400s
6. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +0.414s

Watch all of the action unfold on the final day of drama with the WorldSBK VideoPass!