The FIM Supersport World Championship Supported Test at MotorLand Aragon came to an end with French rider Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) topping the timesheets by just 0.057s as he laid down a marker ahead of the Pirelli Aragon Round. Cluzel’s lap time was faster than the race lap record set by Andrea Locatelli in 2020 by 0.5s as the grid’s eyes all turn to racing getting underway this weekend.

ROOKIES IMPRESS: Baldassarri, Montella, Bulega and Huertas in the top 8

Cluzel left it late in the final 45-minute session of the day before posting a 1’53.407s to claim first place on Day 2 while he also posted the best time of the test as he finished just 0.057s ahead of rookie Lorenzo Baldassarri (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team). Cluzel had a crash at Turn2 in the opening session of Day 2, but was still able to finish clear of Baldassarri with the Italian rider looking to get up to speed in his new surroundings, having made the move from Moto2™ for 2022. It was a tightly packed field in WorldSSP on Day 2 as Turkish star Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finished in third place, just 0.135s away from Cluzel’s best time.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the top Ducati rider in fourth place as he posted a 1’53.261s with the Ducati Panigale V2 set for its racing debut in WorldSSP at the Aragon Round. Reigning Champion Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was fifth but did lead throughout the final session, with just 0.240s separating the top five. Another Italian rookie, Yari Montella (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), had a strong second day of testing as he claimed sixth spot with a 1’54.088s.

Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) claimed seventh spot on Day 2 despite a crash at Turn 7 in the final session, although he was okay following that. He posted a best time of 1’54.144s, set in the second session of the day, to finish a tenth clear of 2021 WorldSSP300 Champion Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki). The Spanish rider is preparing for his first season in WorldSSP and the eighth-place finish on Day 2 will give him confidence heading into the Aragon Round.

NOTHING TO CHOOSE: WorldSSP proving to be competitive in 2022…

Nine riders were separated by one second on Day 2 as Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura WorldSSP) claimed ninth spot, less than a tenth away from Huertas. He was just clear of Hungary’s Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) who rounded out the top ten with a best time of 1’54.408s; just 0.038s away from De Rosa’s time.

Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) was 11^th but less than a tenth away from a place in the top ten as he posted a 1’54.500s on his Panigale V2 as he edged out Turkish rookie Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in 12^th, with MV Agusta hoping to test the new fairing on the final day of testing before the season starts. Stefano Manzi (Dynavolt Triumph) was the fastest Triumph rider despite only testing the bike for the second day in 2022 as he posted a 1’54.652s, ahead of Andy Verdoia (GMT94 Yamaha) and Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team); van Straalen’s best time coming in Free Practice 5. With one second separating the top nine, and just two seconds separating the top 20, WorldSSP in 2022 is shaping up to be an incredible affair.

The top 10 following Day 2 of WorldSSP action at Aragon, full results here:

1. Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) 1’53.407s

2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +0.057s

3. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.135s

4. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +0.214s

5. Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.240s

6. Yari Montella (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.681s

7. Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.737s

8. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) +0.885s

9. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura WorldSSP) +0.963s

10. Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +1.001s

You can view the full results from Day 1 and Day 2 here!

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