ALBARDON, Argentina – Alvaro Bautista got off to a strong start on the opening day for World Superbike Friday at Circuito San Juan Villicum.
Making his debut at Circuito San Juan Villicum, Bautista set the fastest lap in both practice sessions Friday. His best lap came in the second session, with Bautista topping the charts with a 1:43.614 lap.
Jonathan Rea, who locked up another World Superbike title during the last event at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, was second fastest on the day.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi impressed by going third fastest for BARNI Racing Team, followed by Bautista’s Ducati teammate Chaz Davies and BMW Motorrad’s Tom Sykes.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, fresh off his first World Superbike win, was sixth fastest. Leon Haslam, Rea’s teammate, crashed at turn 15 early in the second practice, but was able to rebound and end the day seventh fastest overall.
Sandro Cortese, Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark were eighth through 10th, respectively.