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