The opening session on Day 2 of the Official Test for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field concluded with the third two-hour session of the two-day test, with a familiar feel at the top of the order. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) was the only rider in the 1’28s bracket as he claimed P1 for the third session during the test. He was ahead of Independent Ducati rider Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), who continues to impress at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Bulega was P1 in both of Monday’s sessions and kept that form going on Tuesday morning as he became the first rider in the test to lap in the 1’28s, setting a 1’28.880s to lap almost half-a-second clear of Montella in P2. The #5 hauled himself into second place in the second half of the session with a 1’29.351s, leapfrogging Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team). For his part, ‘El Bocia’ went three tenths quicker than he managed on Day 1 as he continues to show impressive speed at Phillip Island, lapping within half-a-second of Bulega.

After a technical issue and a crash on Day 1, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was back up to speed quickly on Day 2 as he took fourth place with a 1’29.412s, lapping four hundredths slower than Bassani and exactly 0.001s quicker than Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven), who once again showed his potential with a top-five result in testing. The #34 was ahead of Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) as the Portuguese rider climbed up the order compared to his Day 1 results. He posted a 1’29.676s, almost a full second quicker than he went on Monday.

Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) was another who found a huge chunk of time compared to Monday’s action. The #7 set a 1’29.769s as he finished in seventh place, finding around eight tenths between yesterday and today. He was ahead of former Honda teammate Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) with around four hundredths separating the pair – the duo often couldn’t be separated when teammates and that has continued during this session. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was ninth, once again displaying his top-ten speed, with Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounding out the top ten.

Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) was the first crasher on Tuesday. The #96 fell at Turn 11 in the very early stages of FP1 on Tuesday morning and was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. He was declared unfit with a left wrist fracture and an elbow contusion and will therefore miss the season-opening round. There was also a second crash of the test for Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). He came down at Turn 2, and he was also taken to the medical centre for a check-up before being declared fit. Both incidents brought out the red flag.

The top six from WorldSBK’s opening session on Tuesday, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1’28.880s
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.471s
3. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.493s
4. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.532s
5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +0.533s
6. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.796s

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