The 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s fourth round is underway as the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” fires into life. With heavy cloud cover and a few spots of rain throughout the session, conditions were far from ideal and far from the usual sun soaked Misano feel. However, despite the unpredictability of the weather, Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) quest for a first win of 2022 got underway well, as he topped the first session ahead of a raft of Italian home-heroes.

The opening session of the day went the way of Razgatlioglu, getting straight out the box and down to business as he chases a first victory of the season at the circuit where his winning started in 2021. After a few spots of rain in the middle of the session, the reigning World Champion was the first back on track. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) was right up the sharp end too, with the Italian taking second and being top home-hero. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was third, one place ahead of Ducati’s home-hero Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). The Italian won two races at the track last year and dipped into the 1’34 bracket in the final stages of the session. Making it three Italians inside the top five, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) was the top Independent rider as the likeable Italian charged forward.

Top Honda honours went to Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), ahead of teammate Xavi Vierge, both fresh from testing at Suzuka for the 8 Hour race in summer. Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) wasn’t out on track in the final stages of the session and was eighth after the conclusion of FP1, whilst Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) was in ninth place on his return to action. Completing the top ten, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured tenth.

Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 11^th on his return, a place ahead of Scott Redding (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who was 12^th, plagued with electronic issues which meant he only got out for the final ten minutes of the session. Kohta Nozane (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crashed at Turn 13 in the closing stages, whilst Luca Bernardi (BARNI Spark Racing Team) suffered a mechanical issue right at the end of the session at Turn 8. Having his best Friday of the season, Malaysian rookie Hafizh Syahrin (MIE Racing Honda Team) took 16^th.

Top six after WorldSBK FP1 at Misano, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’34.603

2. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +0.241s 

3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.264s

4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.360s

5. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +0.477s

6. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +0.483s

Watch the full weekend in style, LIVE and UNINTERRUPTED with the WorldSBK VideoPass!