Skip to main content

Blistering Times: World Supersport First to Hit Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

By February 19, 2024WorldSBK

Blistering Times: World Supersport First to Hit Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

WorldSBK By February 19, 2024

Blistering Times: World Supersport First to Hit Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Before the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season officially commences on Friday for the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round, the World Supersport field was first to hit the freshly resurfaced Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

While it was a slower start for riders to enter the circuit with Free Practice 1 totalling four hours of open track time for the 27-rider field, it was Stefano Manzi [Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing] who set the first blistering lap time of a 1:32.635 approximately two-hours into the session.

While Manzi was the first to set a quick lap time, it wasn’t enough to secure the top spot on the timesheet. At the conclusion of the four-hour Free Practice 1 session, Italy’s Yari Montella [Barni Spark Racing Team] finished atop the sheets with a 1:32.277 after 62 laps, the most laps completed across the field.

Montella’s Free Practice 1 time was only one-tenth off the current Superpole Record, set by Andrea Locatelli in 2020, standing at a 1:32.176.

Following closely behind Montella was Adrian Huertas [Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team], finishing the session with a 1:32.370, and rounding out the top three was Frederico Caricasulo on the MV Agusta F3 800 RR (1:32.529).

It was an impressive first outing from our two Aussie representatives in the World Supersport field. For Oli Bayliss [D34G Racing WorldSSP Team], the Queenslander finished the four-hour session in 7th place, +0.634s from Montella.

Despite being a Wildcard appearance, Tom Toparis [Stop & Seal Racing] found himself comfortably inside the Top 10 in the first three hours or so of the Free Practice 1 session, but eventually rounded out the timesheets in P12, with a time set of 1:33.248 after 30 laps.

Free Practice 2 for World Supersport will next hit the track at 1:40pm. Make sure to follow all of the LiveTiming action!

 

Top six after WorldSSP FP1 of the Official Test, full results here:

1. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’32.277s

2. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +0.093s

3. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +0.252s

4. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.258s

5. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.453s

6. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +0.595s

 

Don’t miss a second of the action from the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round – 23 – 25th February 2024.
Phillip Island Circuit

The official account of the world-renowned race track. Tag  @phillipislandcircuit and use #AustralianWorldSBK to share your circuit photos

Stay up to date

with WorldSBK - Phillip Island