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Bautista on top in FP3 at damp Most, shaken-up order further down

Saturday, 30 July 2022 07:43 GMT

    • The Championship leader took control at the front as the rain put a different complexion on the order

    The second day of action from the Prosecco DOC Czech Round at the Autodrom Most got underway in damp conditions for the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field. With drizzle in the early morning, the track was not in the ideal condition at the start of the day, with not all of the riders opting to go out. With conditions improving throughout the session, it was Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who led a Ducati 1-2 come the close of FP3 and ahead of Tissot Superpole.

    Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the first rider out on track as he got used to the circuit in wet weather and set plenty of laps to finish in first place, improving his time on his final flying lap. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) was going well at the front of the field and made it a Ducati 1-2 and was top Independent rider, whilst Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was back in action after his FP2 spill and went up to second place within the final five minutes before being pushed back to third by Bassani. Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) completed 11 laps on his way to fourth place to make it three Ducatis in the top four, whilst Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) completed the top five.

    A surprise in sixth place was British youngster Ryan Vickers (TPR Team Pedercini Racing), a fine showing in difficult conditions. Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured seventh place on his final flying lap ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), whilst reigning World Champion and fastest on Friday Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) was ninth. Rounding out the top ten, Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW). Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) all opted to stay in the pits for the 30-minute session.

    Top six after WorldSBK FP3 at Most, full results here:

    1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’46.090s

    2. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +0.852s

    3. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +1.353s

    4. Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) +2.038s

    5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +2.098s

    6. Ryan Vickers (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) +2.776s

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