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Bautista hits top spot in WorldSBK FP3 at Mandalika, Rea only 13th

Saturday, 4 March 2023 01:11 GMT

    • As the first race day in Indonesia beckons, FP3 gave us another different order

    The Motul Indonesian Round at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit enters the first of two race days for the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid, with FP3 starting Saturday action. In hot and humid conditions, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was able to take top slot ahead of his main title rivals, with Superpole promising to be a thrilling spectacle.

    Hitting top spot for the first time in the weekend and ensuring that Ducati remain the manufacturer in form this weekend, Bautista set 1’32.981 and whilst it wasn’t an overall improvement on day one, it’s a strong start to Saturday for the reigning World Champion. 2022 triple winner at Mandalika, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) took second place and set some laps with teammate Andrea Locatelli, who was fourth. The two Yamahas were separated by Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who showed great pace for third place, although he wasn’t happy after being unintentionally held up by Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin in the final sector of his final flying lap. Coming up the order in FP3, Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) completed the top five.

    It was a bright start to Saturday for Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), with BMW seemingly having good potential this weekend after teammate Michael van der Mark took P5 on day one. Seventh place went to Xavi Vierge (Team HRC), who remained top Honda. Fastest on Friday, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was eighth place and didn’t improve his time, finishing just ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Rounding out the top ten, Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven), whilst Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) could only manage 13th – although he concluded FP3 with a big wheelie across the start and finish line. In other news, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) will miss Saturday action due to illness.

    Top six after WorldSBK FP3, full results here:

    1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’32.981s

    2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +0.045s

    3. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +0.079s

    4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.220s

    5. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.438s

    6. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.604s

    ROUND 2 IS LIVE: enjoy the action as it happens and OnDemand with the WorldSBK VideoPass!