22nd January 2025. Although the forecasts predicted a full day of wet weather, the rain finally did not show up and so from ten in the morning when the test session started until six in the afternoon when the first day of private WorldSBK testing came to an end, the riders present had a good opportunity to work intensively on their bikes in preparation for Australia, the first round of the World Superbike Championship calendar, which is imminent.
The test brought all the official and privateer WorldSBK teams to the Jerez track, which was also accompanied by some World Supersport teams, which today ended their tests after opening their tests at this track yesterday.
The fastest rider of the day was Ducati's Nicolo Bulega, who set a time of 1'38.731. Behind him was Italian Andrea Iannone (Ducati) with a time of 1'39.181, while third place was also for Ducati, this time for the Bonovo Racing team's Scott Redding with a time of 1'39.280. Third place went to Garret Gerloff (Kawasaki) with a time of 1'39.332, followed by Bimota-Kawaki's Axel Bassani with a time of 1'39.463. 39.280. Fourth fastest time for Garret Gerloff (Kawasaki) with a 1'39.332, followed by the Bimota-Kawasaki of Axel Bassani with a 1'39.463 in fifth, while sixth was Danilo Petrucci with a 1'39.548. Seventh fastest time was for Spaniard Xavi Vierge (Honda) 1'39.916, whilst eighth place went to Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) 1'40.135 and Sam Lowes (Ducati) ninth with 1'40.207. His brother Alex Lowes (Bimota-Kawasaki) rounded off the top ten with a 1'40.270.
Marcel Schrotter was the fastest in the Supersport class with a time of 1'43.289.
These first pre-season tests will conclude tomorrow.
