Rain at the Superbike test in Cremona: Ducati ahead of Bimota – Honda surprises

The two-day Superbike test at the Cremona Circuit on Wednesday and Thursday this week was split into one day with Michelin and one with Pirelli. As lap times on the French tyres were not disclosed, no comparison is possible – moreover, the intermittent rain on Thursday meant that serious testing was only possible to a limited extent.

In attendance were the factory teams from Bimota, BMW, Ducati, Honda and Yamaha, as well as a number of customer teams. As Kawasaki had already completed a test at Cremona in early September, the Puccetti team opted not to take part.

On Thursday morning, the sky looked menacingly overcast, but it remained dry for most of the time. When it started to rain shortly after 12 noon, the decision was made to bring the lunch break forward. Later, the break was extended by an hour. The afternoon session will therefore begin at 2 pm and end at 6 pm. However, it is doubtful whether the circuit will dry out completely, as it is currently pouring with rain.

No surprise: Ducati dominates

It looks as though Yari Montella’s fastest time – set by the Barni rider at around 11.00 am at 1:28.555 – will stand – a very impressive time! Last year’s fastest lap in a main race was set by Bulega in 1:28.576 mins. The current World Championship leader set the lap record in the sprint race that same weekend with a time of 1:27.980 mins.

Yari Montella fuhr am Donnerstagvormittag die schnellste Runde

Foto: GeeBee Images

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Unsurprisingly, Iker Lecuona and Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it), Sam Lowes (Marc VDS), Alberto Surra (Motocorsa) and Álvaro Bautista (Barni) – all the way down to sixth place, within 0.349 seconds of Montella’s time.

The Bimota aces Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes, in seventh and eighth place respectively, are 0.7 and 0.8 seconds off the pace. At Honda, Jake Dixon (9th) and Somkiat Chantra (11th) appear to be continuing the tentative upward trend seen at Magny-Cours. In positions 12 to 15 are the Yamaha riders Remy Gardner, Stefano Manzi, Xavi Vierge and Andrea Locatelli.

Incidentally, the BMW works team only had youngster Rocco Sessler out on track for testing on Thursday morning. The 17-year-old rides for BMW in the Asian Road Racing Championship (ARRC).

Of the few Supersport riders, Philipp Öttl (Ducati) set the fastest lap in 1:33.449 mins.