It was a frantic afternoon of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Magny-Cours as two red flags headlined FP2. The Pirelli French Round’s first day of action came to a close with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) on top of the order, showcasing his strength at the technical and intricate French track. The first red flag was due to a crash by Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) on the exit of Turn 3, whilst the second was because of an engine issue for Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), leaving fluid on the track.

KAWASAKI VS DUCATI: Rea and Rinaldi as Friday concludes

Having led the way in FP1, Jonathan Rea’s afternoon wasn’t quite as straight forward, with a lot of work going on with the front of his Kawasaki ZX-10RR after the second red flag. The 36-year-old, who is in his final third of the season and thus the last races as a Kawasaki rider, got back out for the final 20 minutes or so and was up inside the top six before ultimately taking seventh and whilst not improving his morning time, nobody managed to beat it, so he goes into Saturday with confidence. Teammate Alex Lowes was also on the pace throughout the day and was ahead of Rea in P6 and the fastest rider through sector four, although warmer afternoon temperatures wouldn’t have been ideal for either, even if the valuable track time may help for the future.

As the track temperatures came up, the Ducatis found their form. First, it was Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who put in a solid lap time to lead the session into the final ten minutes, whilst Championship-leading teammate Alvaro Bautista moved up into P3. Both improved on their morning times considerably at a track that recently hasn’t been one of Ducati’s strongest. Rinaldi took P2 overall as he goes to replicate his podium success and victory contention from 2022, whilst Alvaro Bautista, having not been too well on Thursday, finished the day in sixth, 0.274s off Rea’s morning pace.

GERLOFF SHINES: American star leads BMW’s charge, Razgatlioglu in P4

Flying the BMW flag and indeed the Independent one, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) put a stunning first day together and was second on the timesheets in both sessions, taking P3 on the combined times. Gerloff was set a strong stint at the end of FP2 in what was a race simulation at the end and had solid top six pace. As for the factory team, Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was their best representative with a late charge to P5 in FP2 and therefore P8 on combined times. Teammate Michael van der Mark suffered a fall at Turn 13 but was OK, taking 13^th overall. Home-hero Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) concluded the day in 12^th, with the top 13 riders in one second of each other.

Third in the morning and in the afternoon, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was in good form at one of his favourite circuits on the calendar. He was less than a quarter of a second behind Rea’s fastest time from the morning and less than a tenth and a half behind Rinaldi in FP2, taking fourth on the combined times and like Rea, not being able to improve his time compared to the morning. His teammate Andrea Locatelli was solid in P8 during the afternoon session having been flying in fourth during the morning, but he remained inside the top ten overall, taking P5 at the close of Friday business.

HONDA STRUGGLE: Vierge suffers big highside, Lecuona 17th

There was a dramatic day for Honda, who announced coming into the round that their super concession had been activated with a new chassis. After a quiet opening session, Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) started FP2 with a bang, with a big highside exiting Turn 3. He got caught up with the bike which cartwheeled through the air in a cloud of dust and gravel, resulting a red flag. The incident seemed to be triggered by a moment a lap earlier for Razgatlioglu, his knee digging into the grass on the inside of the turn, kicking up dust which then settled on and next to the racing line. Vierge was able to walk away, whilst the track was cleared up. Debut Suzuka 8 Hours winner Vierge didn’t return to the track and will be reviewed on Saturday after multiple contusions to his right hip and forearm, but his FP1 time leaves him 14^th overall. Teammate Iker Lecuona returned to WorldSBK action after three MotoGP™ outings throughout summer, and he was 17^th come the end of Friday running.

INDEPENDENTS WITH POINTS TO PROVE: expect improvements from outside the top ten

Besides Gerloff in P3, there were more Independents to watch out for, including Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who took P9 with a late lap at the end of FP2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) suffered a chain issue in the morning but took tenth overall, improving his time by just over a tenth of a second. After a massive crash at Turn 7 in FP1, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) had a much more straightforward session and was 11^th at the end of the day, whilst Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was the final Ducati in 15^th.

After his engine blow-up on the exit of Turn 13, Dominique Aegerter was left down in 16^th after day one, whilst Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) was 18^th. Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) suffered a big crash on his return to WorldSBK action at Turn 3 after the first red flag, meaning he didn’t get back out. Isaac Vinales (TPR Team Pedercini Racing), Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Hannes Soomer (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team), Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) and returning Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) completed the order.

Top six after WorldSBK action on Friday, full results here:

1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’36.900

2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.073s

3. Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.081s

4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.160s

5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.242s

6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.274s

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