Bautista starts outside the top 10

ANDBriton Alex Laws (Kawasaki) was the fastest in practice on Friday at the first World Superbike round, which takes place on Phillip Island (Australia). and Spaniard Alvaro Bautista (Ducati), the current championand multiple champion Jonathan Rea (Yamaha) finished outside the top ten.

Lowes squeezed improvements developed by Kawasaki this season to the point of breaking the track record with a 1:29.042 to finish in the lead, followed by the first of the official Ducatis, ridden by Italian rookie Nicolo Bulega (1:29.101), who had dominated last year. on this track in Supersport.

Bautista had a tough day again. Problems dropped him to eighth in the first session with a 1:30.034 and twelfth in the second with a 1:29.572, although things went worse for Rea, who in his debut with Yamaha, after developing a career with Kawasaki, only He could finish sixteenth with a time of 1:30.097.

On the other hand, the Spaniards Iker Lecuona (Honda) will not be able to compete after falling during testing on Tuesday and injuring his shoulder. This Friday he took to the track for both training sessions, but after a final examination the medical services declared him unfit.

“It was a special Friday for everyone because it started raining shortly before in both practice sessions, so we didn’t do many laps,” commented Alvaro. “Then in the second training we discovered problems with the electronic components and also tried a different setting to make me feel better, but it didn’t work. I stopped a lot and didn’t make a lot of turns. However, in the few laps I did in the morning with the setup, I was happy because I was driving well and stable. My physical condition is good and I feel more fluid on the bike. As for the position, everyone is moving very quickly and the time is very close, so I’m not worried. “I can say it was a short but positive Friday.”