Garrett Gerloff (GMT Yamaha) – the US-Boy was the sensation of the last quarter of the season. In Misano he is riding his Yamaha YZF-R1 for the first time again this year, supervised by his team on a European track (© WorldSBK).

The 1st day of testing for Ducati, Yamaha and Puccetti Kawasaki

At well below 15 degrees Celsius, a two-day test organized by Ducati has been taking place in Misano since Monday, March 15th. As stipulated by the regulations, all other teams had to be allowed to participate under acceptable conditions. So it was clear to Yamaha and Puccetti Kawasaki that they wanted to seize the opportunity. The next test in Barcelona is not planned for two and a half weeks, which is why Jonathan Rea is already there and is currently training on a Motocross Kawasaki. See also our separate article on this page. Philipp Öttl is also there with his WSSP Kawasaki and for his teammate Lucas Mahias it is even the first ride on the ZX-10RR this year.

Lucas Mahias in front of Philipp Öttl (both Puccetti Kawasaki) – The Frenchman has now been promoted to WorldSBK for the coming season and, according to his German team-mate, should be successful there straight away. More about Philipp Öttl’s thoughts on 2021 see on this page under “Interviews + TV” with his statements about it (© WorldSBK).

The first half day with already a lot of activity

As the first rider, Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the first rider to venture out on the track in the morning. The Turkish driver is testing some parts that are designed to help him turn and brake. In addition, the first day of the test helps the five-time running winner to shake off the winter rust. At Razgatlioglu’s side, his new team-mate and WorldSBK rookie Andrea Locatelli is also on the track. Garrett Gerloff had a crash at turn 15, but was then able to return to the pits on his own. GoEleven driver Chaz Davies is missing due to a positive Covid-19 test result.

The first times
Razgatlioglu, Yamaha, 1: 34.760
Redding, Ducati, 1: 34.853
Rinaldi, Ducati, 1: 35,143
Gerloff, Yamaha, 1: 35.246
Rabat, Ducati, 1: 35.680
Bassani, Ducati, 1: 35.902
Locatelli, Yamaha, 1: 36,132
Mahias, Kawasaki, 1: 36,460
Ponsson, Yamaha, 1: 36.798
Nozane, Yamaha, 1: 37.925

The Aruba.it Ducati Box with the bikes of Scott Redding and his new teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi. It has been very busy here since the morning of March 15th (© WorldSBK).

Toprak also the fastest in Misano in the afternoon

Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the table after the first day of testing at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. The first three drivers were faster than the lap record at Misano. After the Pata Yamaha factory rider from Turkey had driven the fastest in the morning, he hit the asphalt with a 1: 34.265 in the afternoon. He was faster than Jonathan Rea’s (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) lap record of 1’34.720. However, this comes from the 2nd race in 2015. Toprak’s new team-mate Andrea Locatelli drove a total of 76 laps on the first of two test days, five more than Razgatlioglu. The Italian drove the fifth best time of the day.

Pata Yamaha newcomer Andrea Locatelli needed little time at the well-known Autodromo in Misano to get used to the WorldSBK Yamaha R1 and its increased performance compared to last year’s R6 (© WorldSBK).

The “hosts” are also good at it
Scott Redding (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati), driver of the host team, set very consistent lap times close to the lap record in the afternoon. His focus was on testing and confirming new components on his Ducati Panigale V4 R. His new team-mate Michael Ruben Rinaldi completed 61 laps, while Scotty completed 77. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) set the fourth fastest time of the day. The Italian covered 68 laps. The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK team was also busy with US boy Garrett Gerloff and rookie Kohta Nozane. The reigning Japanese Superbike champion completed 57 laps.

Pata Yamaha’s hope Toprak Razgatlioglu on the Yamaha R1 was the fastest on the first day in Misano. Before the MotoGP race in 2020, a new surface had been applied, which is why significantly better times than in previous years were possible despite lower temperatures (© WorldSBK).

The other private teams
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) covered a total of 46 laps. With the 2020 model of the Kawasaki ZX-10RR, the Frenchman drove the eighth best time of the day. Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motorsport – Yamaha) confided in his new Yamaha with 57 laps. All three Ducati satellite teams were present with Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) and Michele Pirro (Team GoEleven) joining Motocorsa Racing’s Bassani on the track. Rabat drove a total of 93 laps, making him the busiest pilot of the day. Pirro stood in for Chaz Davies after the Welshman tested positive for Covid-19. The Ducati test driver completed 11 laps for GoEleven.

Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) was not after the best times on the Ducati Panigale V4R, but rather concentrated on long runs and constant times. You definitely have to have the man from Barcelona on your toes for the coming season (© WorldSBK).

The times of the first of 2 days in Misano
Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1:34.265s, 71 laps
Scott Redding (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) 1:34.478s, 77 laps
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) 1:34.609s, 61 laps
Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) 1:35.076s, 68 laps
Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1:35.264s, 34 laps
Andrea Locatelli (PATA Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1:35.605, 76 laps
Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) 1:35.680s, 93 laps
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), 1:35.849s, 46 laps
Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1:36.523s, 57 laps
Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport – Yamaha) 1:36.978s, 57 laps
Michele Pirro (Team GoEleven), 1:37.162s, 11 laps

WorldSSP combined times.
Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) 1’38.081s, 38 laps
Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) 1’38.497s, 62 laps
Randy Krummenacher (EAB Racing) 1’38.780, 47 laps
Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) 1’39.052s, 56 laps