WSB Barcelona Test: Jonathan Rea tops the second day

Jonathan Rea ended the two-day World Superbike test in Barcelona at the top of the timesheets on his new Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

The six-time champion’s fastest lap-time was a 1:40.264, enough to overcome the challenge of 2020 title rival Scott Redding by 0.179s. Rea ended the day with 66 laps to his name. Garrett Gerloff ended the day in third spot for GRT Yamaha.

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The American had led the majority of the session but was pipped by Rea in the closing minutes. Gerloff also had a small crash on his final flying lap in the second sector. It was his second crash of the day having also fallen at turn one. 

Jonas Folger had an impressive day in fourth spot for the MGM Bonovo Racing outfit, with the German testing a number of different settings on the BMW M1000 RR. Michael Ruben Rinaldi completed the top five on the second Aruba.It Racing Ducati.

Factory BMW rider Tom Sykes made it two M1000 RRs inside the top six, ahead of Alex Lowes’ Kawasaki. Lowes is continuing his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered whilst he was training. Lowes returned to action at two-day private test at Jerez last month. 

WorldSBK rookie Andrea Locatelli was eighth on the sole Pata Yamaha R1. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was ruled out of action after testing positive for Covid-19. The Turkish rider was withdrawn from test and placed in isolation by the team this morning (April 1).

Chaz Davies ended the second day of his maiden outing with Team GoEleven Ducati in ninth. The Welshman hasn’t been on the V4 R for around five months due to bad weather leading to test cancellations and also being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Leon Haslam completed the top 10 for Team HRC. The 2018 British Superbike champion was busy testing numerous items on his Fireblade, including seat positions to improve the bike’s centre of gravity, alongside new exhausts, an engine upgrade and new swingarms. 

Former MotoGP rider Tito Rabat completed 111 laps on the Barni Racing Ducati V4 R, improving his pace throughout the afternoon to finish the day in 13th. 

Michael van der Mark had a tough day on the second of the factory BMWs. The Dutchman, entering his maiden campaign with the German manufacturer, crashed at the first turn and also at turn five.