Alvaro Bautista strikes back with top time in FP4 at Aragon WorldSBK test

Alvaro Bautista starts off the final day of WorldSBK testing in Aragon fastest from day-one pacesetter Jonathan Rea.

05 Apr 2022

Bautista, who was more than six tenths down on expected 2022 title rivals Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu during day-one, posted a solid time of 1:50.097s to go quickest in FP4.

Rea managed to pit Garrett Gerloff to second, with the latter continuing to impress ahead of what’s a big 2022 season.

An eight-time winner around the MotorLand Aragon Circuit, Rea set a time quicker than the official race lap record on Monday, as did reigning world champion Razgatlioglu.

The Pata Yamaha rider started day-two with a sixth place finish - eight tenths down on the Aruba.it Ducati rider.

World Superbike Test Aragon, Spain - Free Practice 4 Results
Pos	Rider	Nat	Team	Time
1	Alvaro Bautista	SPA	Aruba.It Racing Ducati	1:50.097s
2	Jonathan Rea	GBR	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK	+0.274s
3	Garrett Gerloff	USA	GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team	+0.429s
4	Alex Lowes	GBR	Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK	+0.509s
5	Michael Rinaldi	ITA	Aruba.It Racing Ducati	+0.632s
6	Toprak Razgatlioglu	TUR	PATA Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK	+0.855s
7	Andrea Locatelli	ITA	PATA Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK	+1.134s
8	Philipp Oettl	GER	GoEleven Ducati	+1.254s
9	Loris Baz	FRA	Bonovo Action BMW	+1.517s
10	Lucas Mahias	FRA	Puccetti Kawasaki	+1.691s
11	Axel Bassani	ITA	Motocorsa Ducati	+1.708s
12	Scott Redding	GBR	BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team	+1.785s
13	Eugene Laverty	IRL	Bonovo Action BMW	+1.810s
14	Kohta Nozane	JPN	GRT Yamaha	+1.993s
15	Ilya Mikhalchik	UKR	BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team	+2.264s
16	Roberto Tamburini	ITA	Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team	+2.627s
17	Leandro Mercado	ARG	MIE Honda Racing	+2.949s
18	Hafizh Syahrin	MAL	MIE Honda Racing	+3.648s
19	Oliver Konig	CZE	Orelac Racing Kawasaki	+4.258s
20	Loris Cresson	BEL	Pedercini Kawasaki	+4.427s
21	Gabriele Ruiu	ITA	Bmax Racing	+4.897s

While Ducati, Kawasaki and Yamaha continue to look strong, BMW’s struggles are seemingly continuing as Scott Redding could only manage P12.

For the second time in as many sessions, Loris Baz was the top BMW rider in ninth, however, the Frenchman was also over a second down on Bautista.

Replaced once again by Ukrainian rider Ilya Michalchik, Michael Van Der Mark has officially been ruled out of this weekend’s season-opener.

Van Der Mark, who suffered a recent mountain bike accident, said: "It has been a difficult decision but unfortunately I will not try to ride at MotorLand Aragón.

"At this moment we have to be smart and stay calm because this is the only way forward in my recovery.

"I really miss working with the team and riding my BMW M 1000 RR but right now my goal is to be fit again as soon as possible."

More results to follow from the final day of pre-season WorldSBK testing.

Our specialist in British and World Superbikes. Robert covers the Toprak Razgatlioglu vs Jonathan Rea rivalry in all its gory detail - just don’t ask him which bike racing championship is the most exciting…