2019 WorldSBK
Argentina Day Two

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From Friday morning, it was immediately clear that the Argentinian track conditions were not the best. After the problems that arose last year, this year about 70% of the track had been resurfaced, but it did not improve the grip due to the vast amount of sand on the asphalt.

For this reason, riders Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R), Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), Leon Camier (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR), Riucki Kiyonari (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR) and Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven / Ducati Panigale V4 R) decided not to participate in the race as a form of protest.

The remaining twelve riders who lined up on the grid rode the race regularly over a distance of 21 laps on a 49-degree track temperature.

After taking pole position in the Superpole session held in the late morning, in Race 1, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) maintained the race lead from start to finish.

At the start, both Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) managed to get past Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1), moving in behind the Ducati-riding Spaniard.

In the opening laps, the first four riders were within a gap of less than six-tenths of one another. On the seventh lap, Rea had a go at overtaking the race leader, but the Ducati rider was able to fend off the attack. The Northern Irishman made another attempt on the following lap and it seemed as if he would be able to overtake Bautista, but the Spaniard maintained the upper hand, once again staying ahead of the reigning World Champion.

From about the mid-race point, the gaps between the riders increased and the positions stayed the same until the end.

Álvaro Bautista winning the race ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), third.

Michael van der Mark beat his team-mate Alex Lowes to fourth place while Leon Haslam was sixth ahead of Tom Sykes. 

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P1 – Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati)

“It’s my first time riding here in San Juan and I am so happy that I was able to get the victory at this amazing track with all these amazing people supporting us! Today was really difficult riding on the slippery surface of the asphalt. I just tried to keep calm and avoid mistakes. I didn’t really focus on my performance but more on not making any error, trying to ride as smooth as possible. I hope tomorrow we will be able to enjoy other amazing battles”.

P2 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)

“To be honest, it was a really difficult race today. The conditions of the track were not perfect and it was more about trying to manage my race. I feel really good with my bike and I want to thank all my guys because we made a last-minute change for these conditions and I think it worked. I tried to be with Bautista, but then I made a mistake because I was riding over my head to stay there. I made a few mistakes but I really hope that the track will be a little bit better tomorrow, but for today I am quite content with the podium”.

P3 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing)

“It has not been so easy for me, but I think all riders were struggling today. In the final two laps, I pushed to the limit in the attempt to reach the second position. But then I saw it was impossible for me to reach Johnny, so I decided to settle there in the third position and bring home another podium. I am really happy about this result. Let’s see how will be tomorrow”.

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#ARGWorldSBK at Circuito San Juan Villicum: Race 1

1. Á. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
2. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
3. T. Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
4. M. Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
5. A. Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
6. L. Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
7. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
8. J. Torres (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
9. L. Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
10. A. Delbianco (Althea Mie Racing Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
11. M. Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
12. M. Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)

Championship Standings after Race 1, Round 12

1. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Kawasaki (564 points)
2. Alvaro Bautista (ESP) Ducati (440 points)
3. Alex Lowes (GBR) Yamaha (290 points)

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WorldSSP

The World Supersport grid took to the San Juan circuit for their Tissot Superpole session in Argentina, more important than ever before at it is match-point for the title this weekend. As the track temperature increased, it became increasingly harder to set a competitive lap time. However, remaining in fine form from topping FP2 on Friday, Corentin Perolari (GMT94 YAMAHA) mastered the hot conditions and the heated battle for pole, taking his first ever World Supersport pole.

The 25-minute session got underway in a bad way for Loris Cresson (Kallio Racing), as the Belgian rider crashed at Turn 1, meaning he had a mountain to climb. It was looking like it would also be a tricky weekend for the BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team duo of Randy Krummenacher and Federico Caricasulo, as the top two in the Championship were languishing outside the top five.

Unlike in the WorldSBK, lap times came on stronger throughout the session and with just three minutes to go, it was looking like a French 1-2-3 on the grid for Sunday’s race. However, it would all be spoilt as the times tumbled in the closing stages, with a variety of riders firing shots at the front row.

In the end however, it was Corentin Perolari who remained at the top of the timesheets and took a career-first pole position in World Supersport. The young Frenchman – who is the seventh youngest WorldSSP pole-sitter in the class’ history – had never achieved a front row until now, proved that his Friday pace was no fluke and he took the pole position by just under a tenth of a second from Italian sensation, Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing). The veteran was back on the front row for a second successive round. Completing the front row and eager to keep his title aspirations alive, Jules Cluzel (GMT94 YAMAHA) will be eager to capitalise on his front row advantage.

Heading up the second row, Magny-Cours pole-sitter Kyle Smith (Team Pedercini Racing) made it two Kawasaki’s in the top four. The British rider, who was a constant front row threat, is seeking a first podium of the year in WorldSSP. Fifth place belonged to another Kawasaki rider, as 2017 World Supersport Champion Lucas Mahias secured a second row start, making it three French riders in the top five. Championship leader Randy Krummenacher will start this title quest from sixth place, as he is off the front row for a second round in succession.

Row three features more big names, with Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) looking for a second consecutive podium in World Supersport from seventh on the grid. He was able to pip Federico Caricasulo, as the rider second in the standings was only able to finish eighth. One place behind, it was a career-best starting position for Christian Stange (GEMAR Ciociaria Corse WorldSSP Team), who was top Honda. Completing the top ten was Hungary’s Peter Sebestyen (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda).

There’s plenty of work to be completed for plenty of riders outside the top ten, as Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 11th, ahead of Raffaele De Rosa (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse) in 12th and Thomas Gradinger (Kallio Racing) in 13th.

Pole position – Corentin Perolari (GMT94 YAMAHA)

“I have a very good feeling with my bike here in Argentina. I am extremely pleased with the first position. Since the beginning of the weekend, I’ve been feeling comfortable on my bike and I think that starting for pole position will help me do a good race tomorrow. Thanks to my team for all their effort”.

WorldSSP at Circuito San Juan Villicum – Superpole

1. Corentin Perolari (GMT94 YAMAHA) 1’45.993
2. Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing) 1’46.060
3. Jules Cluzel (GMT94 YAMAHA) 1’46.129

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Sunday AEDT Schedule

Time	Class	Session
0100	WSBK	WUP
0125	WSSP600	WUP
0300	WSBK	Superpole Race
0415	WSSP600	Race
0600	WSBK	Race 2

Source: MCNews.com.au

2019 WorldSBK
Argentina Day One

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Alvaro Bautista topped the timesheets in Argentina overnight on the Spaniard’s first visit to Circuito San Juan Villicum.

However a dirty track for the opening day of practice saw many riders keep their powder mainly dry, choosing to sit out most of the sessions and wait for other riders to do the donkey work of putting rubber down and cleaning up the circuit. 

Jonathan Rea opened his weekend strongly. The undulations and aggressive direction changes suited the Northern Irishman’s style and he finished the day in second overall, despite leading the FP2 session almost to the chequered flag as track temperatures nudged 50-degrees celsius.

Jonathan Rea

“It was really difficult to find a feeling out there because you cannot push anywhere near the limit. It is like riding on marbles and the track did not get much better. I expected a big step in the afternoon session. Even though the track looked cleaner the grip wasn’t there. A really frustrating day because you are kind of reluctant to do anything with the bike set-up in readiness for the track ‘rubbering-in’ some more.”

Chaz Davies sat out most of the morning session and finished the day fourth overall just behind Barni Ducati rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi.

Tom Sykes worked his way through set-up changes to find enough grip from the BMW to finish the opening fifth on the charts. 

Tom Sykes

“The circuit layout here at San Juan is fantastic and is so enjoyable to ride, its just a shame that the current track conditions are not great. Its not safe and is so easy to get caught out, you can go 15cm off line and you are at risk of crashing which is far from ideal. Having said that, the guys here done a spectacular job with the track and is certainly an amazing place to come race. Today we finished up P5 which I am pleased about, we made a few small changes on the bike throughout the session which was an improvement. We are only +1.000 second off the top two guys but other than that we are right in the mix, hopefully we can improve a bit tomorrow and be at the sharp end come the race.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) returned to action for the first time since his debut race winning weekend in France last time out. A late crash at Magny Cours in the final race left him with a painful left ankle, but he persevered to finish sixth on Friday’s combined times.

Leon Haslam was unfortunate in the afternoon session to fall almost as soon as he started, at Turn 16, suffering an off-throttle highside trying out a different option rear tyre and injuring his knee and thumb as he fell.

Despite his heavy hit Haslam got going again to finish seventh overall, after a typically gritty recovery at the end of FP2.

Leon Haslam

“I fell on an out lap, with zero-lean angle and zero brakes, as I had an off throttle high-side. It is the first time I had used that tyre. I went back out on my second tyre after the crash and I had zero grip. I could not even get to my knee because compared to the morning conditions they were a lot worse. We changed the tyre near the end and slowly got going.”

Fresh from the news that he is joining Kawasaki next season, Alex Lowes was ninth on day one in Argentina but Sandro Cortese had the honour of being fastest Yamaha in P8.

Alex Lowes

“I’m a bit disappointed with the condition of the track; it’s really dirty and it hasn’t improved as expected over the course of the day. The racing line is getting a lot better but if you get a bit offline then you’re on to the dirty part of the track. Hopefully the line will get a bit wider ahead of the race tomorrow. It’s a great track, the layout is fantastic, and the weather has been perfect today, but the problem with the dirty track means we’re a lot slower than we should be. But then the conditions are the same for everyone and we just have to deal with them the best we can. This afternoon we tried something with the bike that didn’t work as expected in the greasy conditions, which was important because now we know in which direction not to go tomorrow when, hopefully, track conditions improve.”

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2019 – WSBK Argentina – Day One

1. BAUTISTA Alvaro SPA Ducati 1’43.614
2. REA Jonathan GBR Kawasaki 0.104
3. RINALDI Michael Ruben ITA Ducati 1.229
4. DAVIES Chaz GBR Ducati 1.252
5. SYKES Tom GBR BMW 1.320
6. RAZGATLIOGLU Toprak TUR Kawasaki 1.331
7. HASLAM Leon GBR  Kawasaki 1.397
8. CORTESE Sandro GER  Yamaha 1.530
9. LOWES Alex GBR Yamaha 1.655
10. VAN DER MARK Michael NDL Yamaha 1.723
11. TORRES Jordi SPA Kawasaki 2.010
12. MERCADO Leandro ARG Kawasaki 2.909
13. BAZ Loris FRA Yamaha 3.025
14. MELANDRI Marco ITA GRT Yamaha 3.104
15. DELBIANCO Alessandro ITA Honda 3.940
16. KIYONARI Ryuichi JPN Honda 3.999
17. REITERBERGER Markus GER BMW 4.073
18. CAMIER Leon GBR Honda 4.374
19. LAVERTY Eugene IRE Ducati 6.989

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WorldSSP

The World Supersport Championship could well be decided this weekend, with Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) looking to become the first ever Swiss WorldSSP Champion. After day one however, it was Corentin Perolari (GMT94 YAMAHA) who made hay whilst the sun shone, whilst big names were littered throughout the top ten.

Leading the charge of the WorldSSP field into Saturday, Corentin Perolari left it late to go to top slot in FP1. The Frenchman put in a strong lap time late on and was just under half-a-tenth clear of his nearest challenger. Having languished down the field in FP1, Federico Caricasulo (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) put in a sterling comeback in FP2 to be right in the mix going into a crucial Saturday Superpole day. The Italian put in strong lap times at the very end of the session, initially going to the top before being pushed back to second place. Completing the top three after day one was Championship leader, Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team), as he looks to better his teammate to secure the WorldSSP crown.

Having been top of FP1, Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing) slipped to fourth place but rounded out a strong opening day in Argentina in fine fashion. The Italian will look to repeat his podium success of Magny-Cours this weekend and looks like he has good pace. Fifth place belonged to Jules Cluzel (GMT94 YAMAHA), who will need to find more pace if he is to keep his Championship hopes alive this weekend. Sixth place went to 2017 WorldSSP Champion, Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The Frenchman starting his weekend in solid style as he looks to secure a second consecutive win of the season, following on from his magnificent in Magny-Cours.

Top MV Agusta honours went to Raffaele De Rosa (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse), as the 32-year-old begins his chase for a first victory in World Supersport. Behind him was Magny-Cours pole-sitter and ESS Cup Winner, Kyle Smith (Team Pedercini Racing). Making it four manufacturers inside the top nine was Peter Sebestyen (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda), as he seeks more top tens on his first visit to Argentina. Christian Stange (GEMAR – Ciociaria Corse WorldSSP Team) rounded out the top ten on day one, confirming his top ten pace from FP1.

2019 WorldSSP Argentina Day One

1. Corentin Perolari – Yamaha 1’46.246
2. Federico Caricasulo Yamaha 1’46.292
3. Randy Krummenacher Yamaha 1’46.451

Source: MCNews.com.au