Friday in the FIM Supersport World Championship belonged to reigning Champion Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) at the Autodrom Most as the Swiss rider topped both Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 for the Prosecco DOC Czech Round. Aegerter was one of a few riders to go underneath the lap record in Free Practice 2 and there was little to separate the top two in the combined standings.

LESS THAN A TENTH IN IT: Aegerter pips Bulega

Aegerter was the only rider to lap in the 1’34s bracket as he posted a 1’34.952s to top FP2 and the combined classification, with his lap time around three tenths quicker than the existing lap record set by now Moto2™ rider Manuel Gonzalez in 2021. The reigning Champion set a series of laps in the closing stages of FP2 to maintain his position at the top of the standings, fending off the challenge of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) in second place. The Italian was just 0.080s behind Aegerter at the end of the second 30-minute session, and around half a tenth quicker than Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) in third place.

A CLOSE CHASING PACK: an unpredictable weekend in store?

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) finished in fourth place, 0.216s down on Aegerter but was one of four riders to lap under the previous lap record of 1’35.213s. Rookie Baldassarri was around two tenths clear of Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha), replacing the injured Jules Cluzel at Most, in fifth place after setting a 1’35.391s. Turkish star Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was sixth and just under half a second down on Aegerter’s time.

THE FIGHT FOR THE TOP TEN IS ON: 12 riders within one second…

The gap from Aegerter in first place to Steven Odendaal (Kallio Racing) in 12^th place was just under a second in the combined classification. Stefano Manzi (Dynavolt Triumph) ensured four of the five manufacturers were represented inside the top ten with seventh place, ahead of Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura WorldSSP) in eighth despite an FP2 crash at Turn 10. Andy Verdoia (GMT94 Yamaha) was ninth overall and the highest-placed rider not to improve his time in FP2, with his best of 1’35.621s coming in FP1.

Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) is looking to bounce back from a difficult Donington Park two weeks ago and responded with a place in the top ten after Friday’s two Free Practice sessions, finishing in tenth place after posting a 1’35.716s. The returning Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) secured 11^th place and had been running inside the top ten during FP2, with Odendaal rounding out the top 12 and the final rider within a second of Aegerter. The South African, returning as a replacement rider at Kallio Racing, was also the highest-placed WorldSSP Challenge rider.

HOUSEKEEPING: to note from Friday at Most

2021 WorldSSP300 Champion Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) was 16^th overall after he had an FP2 crash at Turn 10 in the opening stages of the session, costing him valuable running time. Unai Orradre (MS Racing Yamaha WorldSSP) was 23^rd in the combined classification after a Turn 7 crash during FP1, while teammates Jeffrey Buis (Motozoo Racing by Puccetti) and Ben Currie were 29^th and 30^th respectively; Buis had a Turn 2 crash in the closing stages of FP2 while Currie crashed at Turn 15 in FP2.

The top six following WorldSSP Friday running, full results here:

1 Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) 1’34.952s

2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Yamaha) +0.080s

3. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) +0.138s

4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +0.216s

5. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.439s

6. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.439s

Watch WorldSSP Tissot Superpole from 10:25 Local Time (GMT+2) on Saturday using the WorldSBK VideoPass!