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Another two rounds of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship have been completed, plus a two-day test in Italy, so it’s time to dive into the things we picked up from rounds at Cremona and Most, plus the test at Misano. From riders making clear steps to those left a bit frustrated, here’s what we were able to learn over the past few weeks…

BULEGA AND RAZGATLIOGLU A STEP CLEAR: pushing each other harder than ever

Perhaps not a ‘what we learnt’, but more a ‘reinforcing what we knew’. The pair were 1-2 in all six races at Cremona and Most, with Bulega winning four times, but they were massively clear of the rest of the field – particularly in Czechia. That continued at the Misano test with Bulega topping the times after only testing on Day 2, and both the #11 and Razgatlioglu smashed the previous lap record set by ‘El Turco’ in 2024. They were separated by just 0.040s after Bulega set a 1’32.093s, but there was a big seven-tenths gap to Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in third. The Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round could be set for another Bulega-Razgatlioglu showdown…

REA FINDING HIS FEET ON THE 2025 YAMAHA: ‘first’ test for the #65

After a winter testing programme that was disrupted by rain, and then suffering multiple fractures to his foot in the Official Test in Australia, the Misano test was effectively Jonathan Rea's (Pata Maxus Yamaha) first of the year. He stated he was feeling physically good after two rounds and the test under his belt, and that ‘it felt like I started to ride the bike the way it’s meant to be ridden’. He also put in personal best times at Misano, on both race and SCQ tyres, and while the gap to the front was big, finding two tenths would’ve hauled the #65 from eighth on the timesheets on Day 2 to fourth, and the gap to third would’ve been minuscule. Rea was the lead Yamaha rider on Day 1 and second-fastest rider in blue on Day 2.

RIDERS LEFT FRUSTRATED AT MISANO: two crashes for Petrucci, Gerloff can’t find gains on softer tyre

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) has said before he needs to work out the softer Pirelli tyres, but he was unable to find everything he needed at Misano. Two crashes on Day 2, both at Turn 1 after suffering from vibrations on the front, hampered his day and he was left in ninth place. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was frustrated after Day 2 too, unable to unlock the pace needed on the SCQ tyre, declaring he was ‘barely any faster’ on the SCQ tyre when compared to race tyres. The positive for the #31 is he felt good on race tyres and a look at the analysis shows he was consistent too. The other positive is that he took a season-best result in Race 2 at Most, giving him confidence for Misano, in the hope he can continue his general upward trajectory on the ZX-10RR.

BAUTISTA DOING EVERYTHING TO CLOSE THE GAP: feeling is there, new items at the test…

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) has stated throughout 2025 that his feeling on the Panigale V4 R is back to a similar level as 2023, but the search to find even more continues. The #19 was testing new ergonomics to help him feel more comfortable, while also working on the setup for the round. Other riders were also testing new items too. Performances in Tissot Superpole have been improved massively compared to 2024, although race results have been mixed and there’s still a gap to bridge between Bautista and the top two, but the Spaniard is clearly making steps compared to last year. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) was testing a rear thumb brake solution, partially due to his fractured toes and partially due to struggles he's experienced this year, while he was also wearing a right boot one size too big to help him feel more comfortable with the injury.

HONDA’S PROGRESS: clear for all to see

Honda had an awful start to the 2024 season but turned it around to secure a podium at the end of the year. The big question was whether they could start 2025 as they ended 2024 and the answer was a ‘Yes’. Their form in recent rounds has been quick and consistent, always fighting for the top seven positions at Cremona and Most. Lecuona was the only race rider for the factory team at the test with teammate Xavi Vierge recovering from injury – the #97 starting his rehab the day of his surgery as he looks to make quick progress – but the #7 was quick on both days as the team continued working on electronics.

TEST RIDERS APLENTY AT MISANO: test teams for BMW, Ducati, Yamaha, and Honda…

Four manufacturers had dedicated test teams at the track. Markus Reiterberger and Sylvain Guintoli were on track for BMW, Ducati had Michele Pirro available, including on the new Panigale V4 R, and Honda had Tommy Bridewell alongside Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC). Yamaha had two riders available too, with the running split over two days: Jason O’Halloran, their test rider, was on track on Tuesday while WorldSSP standings leader Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) had ‘one of the best days of my life’ after spending Wednesday on the Yamaha R1 – and he was greeted into the box after his final run with a round of applause by the Yamaha test team.

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