The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship returned to the track for Free Practice 2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Dutch rider Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki) one of a handful of riders who were able to improve their lap time between Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 in Spain. The Dutch rider was able to find around two tenths of a second to finish at the top of the combined classification as Friday’s running in WorldSSP300 for the Catalunya Round concluded.

A SURPRISE IN STORE: a wildcard inside the top three…

Steeman posted a 1’55.287s to move himself ahead of two local riders in the combined classification with the Dutchman one of just eight riders to improve their lap time in the afternoon compared to the morning. While he was able to find around two tenths of a second, Julio Garcia Gonzalez (ESP Solutions Motap Racing Team) and Jose Luis Perez Gonzales (Accolade Smrz Racing) did not improve their lap time and finished second and third in the standings respectively, after wildcard Garcia Gonzalez topped Friday morning’s FP1 session. The trio were separated by around two tenths at the end of Friday’s running.

THREE RIDERS, LESS THAN ONE TENTH: not a lot to separate the field…

With very few riders improving their time, Bruno Ieraci (Prodina Racing WorldSSP300) remained in fourth place at the end of the day’s running, ahead of Marc Garcia (Yamaha MS Racing) in fifth and Hugo De Cancellis (Prodina Racing WorldSSP300) in sixth; in FP2, Garcia was classified in 23rd place but his time of 1’55.692s from FP1 was enough to take a top-five finish at the end of the day in the combined classification.

A TIGHTLY-PACKED FIELD: it’s close in the top ten

Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) was seventh as the sole KTM rider in the field, less than half-a-second off Steeman’s pace in the combined classification, ahead of Spanish dup Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Kawasaki) and Inigo Iglesias (SMW Racing) in eighth and ninth respectively. Brazilian rider Humberto Maier (AD78 Team Brasil by MS Racing) rounded out the top ten with, 0.726s off Steeman’s time.

CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN: Diaz in 12th place…

Italian rider Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) claimed 11th spot ahead of Championship leader Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) in 12th. The pair set the same best lap time with a 1’56.089s, with neither able to improve in FP2. Gennai was classified ahead due to a faster second-quickest lap time. Gabriele Mastroluca (ProGP Racing) was 13th ahead of Kevin Sabatucci (Kawasaki GP Project) and Yuta Okaya (MTM Kawasaki) who rounded out the top 15.

TO NOTE: talking points from WorldSSP300 on Friday

Wildcard Unai Calatayud (Arco Motor University Team) was one rider to improve his time in Free Practice 2, but his session came to an end after 20 minutes in the afternoon session after he had a highside at Turn 4. The Spanish rider was taken to the medical centre for a check-up and was declared fit following the crash.

The top six following Friday action in WorldSSP300, full results here:

1. Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki) 1’55.287s

2. Julio Garcia Gonzalez (ESP Solutions Motap Racing Team) +0.088s

3. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing) +0.193s

4. Bruno Ieraci (Prodina Racing WorldSSP300) +0.281s

5. Marc Garcia (Yamaha MS Racing) +0.405s

6. Hugo De Cancellis (Prodina Racing WorldSSP300) +0.422s

Watch all the WorldSSP300 action on Saturday in style using the WorldSBK VideoPass!