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GERLOFF SURGES TO P1: The #31 secures top spot on Friday at Most as Bulega crashes in FP2

Friday, 15 May 2026 14:17 GMT

    • The Texan rider put in a late lap to claim top spot in Friday’s running, while Championship leader Bulega had a tricky afternoon

    Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) topped a MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship session for the first time since 2024 by claiming P1 in Free Practice 2, and on the combined timesheets, at the Autodrom Most. The American star left it late to topple Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) who finished in second place despite a crash in FP2 at the Autodrom Most as the Czech Round kicked off.

    GERLOFF LEADS THE WAY

    Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) started FP1 strongly before a Turn 1 crash in the first 10 minutes, instantly showing top-ten pace, and backed that up when he re-joined the session after repairs had been made. He continued that form in FP2, immediately going into the top five with a 1’31.553s, before eventually claiming top spot with a 1’30.791s set in the last few minutes of FP2.

    BULEGA FASTEST FOR DUCATI BUT CRASHES

    Bulega topped the times in FP1 and was second in FP2, although it was a mixed day for ‘Bulegas’. In FP2, he had a scare at Turn 6, forcing him through the gravel at Turn 7, before a Turn 1 crash a few minutes later ended his day early. Hs 1’30.857s gave him P2 on the timesheets. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was back on top form as he claimed P3 with a 1'30.933s but he also had a dramatic day with a technical problem in FP1, while Bulega’s teammate, Iker Lecuona, finished fourth overall, just 0.142s behind his teammate. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed P8 overall but was under half-a-second down on Gerloff’s time, while Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) set a 1’31.288s to finish 0.039s down on the #5. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) put in a late 1’31.555s to claim P12 with Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) just behind in P14. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) was 17th after he had an FP1 crash at Turn 2, while Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) was 19th.

    BOTH BIMOTAS IN THE TOP SEVEN

    Both Bimotas were quick on Friday and close to the front. Despite an FP1 crash at Turn 20 which brought out the red flags, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was in fifth with a 1’31.066s, lapping 0.209s slower than Bulega. Axel Bassani was just a tenth away from his teammate after posting a 1’31.244s to finish in the top seven.

    PETRUCCI QUICK AT MOST, VAN DER MARK RETURNS

    Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has gone well at Most in the past with six rostrums to his name, and that continued on his first day at the Czech venue with BMW. He claimed sixth fastest overall after posting a 1’31.217s to split the two Bimota riders. In place of Miguel Oliveira at Most is Michael van der Mark as the Dutchman returns to WorldSBK race action for the first time since the end of the 2025 campaign. He finished in tenth place with a 1’31.354s

    VIERGE QUICKEST FOR YAMAHA AS SOFUOGLU SHINES

    Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) finished outside the top 10 by claiming P11 as the fastest rider for Yamaha, setting a 1’31.543s. Teammate Andrea Locatelli moved up the order in the closing stages of FP2 to finish in 14th, ahead of GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team duo Stefano Manzi and Remy Gardner. Just half-a-tenth separated the #62 and the #87. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) caught the eye in FP1 when he finished in P7 for his career-best practice result, although he finished the day in 18th place. The #54 also had a crash in FP1 right after setting his best time of the session but, like the rest of the field, improved his time in FP2 to a 1’31.890s. Teammate Mattia Rato was 20th.

    DIFFICULT DAY FOR HONDA

    Honda HRC’s difficult 2026 continued with Somkiat Chantra and Yuki Kunii, still replacing Jake Dixon, rounding out the WorldSBK field on Friday in Czechia. Chantra was the fastest of the two on the CBR1000RR-R SP machine in 21st while Kunii finished in 22nd.

    The top six from WorldSBK’s Friday action, full results here:

    1 Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) 1’30.791s

    2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.066s

    3. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.142s

    4. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.208s

    5. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.275s

    6. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.426s

    Don’t miss Saturday’s WorldSBK action from Most starting with FP3 at 14:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 30% off!