World Superbikes 2024 Phillip Island Test Day 1 Results
Toprak Razgatlioglu puts in a blistering lap to lead day 1 of the Phillip Island Test ahead of Nicolo Bulega.
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The BMW superstar continues to impress as he broke the record from 2022 by posting a laptime of 1:28.511s. Nicolo Bulega was also in hot pursuit as his lap was just 0.074s shy of the top time set by the Turk.
The BMW superstar continues to impress as he broke the record from 2022 by posting a lap time of 1:28.511s. Nicolo Bulega was also in hot pursuit, as his lap was just 0.074s shy of the top time set by the Turk.
In third place, was the Yamaha of Andrea Locatelli, followed by Andrea Iannone, who led the independent efforts in fourth.
With Alex Lowes representing Kawasaki in fifth, we have all manufacturers, bar Honda, featuring in the top five with all signs pointing towards a competitive season opener.
Reigning double world champion Alvaro Bautista finished the day in seventh and will look to activate his attack mode for day 2 as the Spaniard prepares for his third title defense, starting from one of his favorite hunting grounds in Phillip Island.
Six-time world champion Jonathan Rea had a silent day as he finished the day in fifteenth, as he finished the day 1.4 seconds off the time set by Toprak Razgatlioglu.
| Position | Rider | Nationality | Teams | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team | 1:28.511s |
| 2 | Nicolo Bulega | ITA | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | +0.074s |
| 3 | Andrea Locatelli | ITA | Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK | +0.324s |
| 4 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | GoEleven Ducati | +0.490s |
| 5 | Alex Lowes | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK | +0.700s |
| 6 | Michael Ruben Rinaldi | ITA | Motocorsa Ducati | +0.702s |
| 7 | Alvaro Bautista | SPA | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | +0.767s |
| 8 | Scott Redding | GBR | Bonovo Action BMW | +0.859s |
| 9 | Remy Gardner | AUS | GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team | +0.888s |
| 10 | Axel Bassani | ITA | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK | +0.895s |
| 11 | Sam Lowes | GBR | Marc VDS Ducati | +0.921s |
| 12 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Barni Spark Racing Team | +0.957s |
| 13 | Dominique Aegerter | SWI | GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team | +1.137s |
| 14 | Michael Van Der Mark | NED | ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team | +1.205s |
| 15 | Jonathan Rea | GBR | Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK | +1.455s |
| 16 | Xavi Vierge | SPA | Team HRC WorldSBK | +1.466s |
| 17 | Philipp Oettl | GER | GMT94 Yamaha | +1.475s |
| 18 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | Bonovo Action BMW | +1.870s |
| 19 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | Team HRC WorldSBK | +1.957s |
| 20 | Bradley Ray | GBR | Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team | +2.048s |
| 21 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Puccetti Kawasaki | +2.518s |
| 22 | Tarran Mackenzie | GBR | MIE Petronas Honda | +3.069s |
| 23 | Adam Norrodin | ITA | MIE Petronas Honda | +3.577s |
7- Japanese giants seeking massive boost in their 2024 package:
It sounds a bit meh, and that’s why we have it at number seven! JK
It’s no denying that both Yamaha and Honda had a torrid 2023 campaign, with both manufacturers finishing the year at the bottom of the constructor standings.
Yamaha suffered its first winless year since 2003, whereas Honda had to endure a bone-crushing year with a record amount of crashes at 73.
And its not like we haven’t been accustomed to these type of performances that the two have shown recently.
For Yamaha, its been two long years since we saw the M1’s potent corner speed advantage dwindle into non-existence, and with the lack of progress made in the engine and braking departments, the M1 has been exposed as being a sitting duck compared to its rival manufacturers.
As for Honda, its problems can be traced further back to 2020, when they endured their first winless year in a while and have since then only racked up four further wins.
But the good news is; it surely can’t get any worse than 2023, right?
With the Japanese manufacturers granted unlimited private testing days, assisted by relaxed engine testing and aero restrictions, thanks to the new concession rules, surely we will be able to see some glimpses into their past glory.
According to Motorsports.com, Honda has already planned up to 22 private tests for the upcoming season, whilst also shaving off close to 8 kilos of weight in their 2024 Challenger.
Fabio Quartararo, likewise, has also hinted at a change in mentality within Yamaha, owing to adopting a “European-style” approach.
So expect a better showing from the Japanese manufacturers in the upcoming season.
6- KTM; All eyes on their brand-new superstar and their first real shot at the crown
KTM’s future hotshot, Pedro Acosta, will be making one of the most anticipated Premiere Class debuts in a while.
The last time I was this excited for a debut was back in 2013, when Marc Marquez answered the call to lineup next to Dani Pedrosa in Repsol Honda colors.
This has a similar feel to it and I can’t wait to see what Pedro Acosta brings to the table.
The Spanish rider was already decently up to speed on his very first outing with the RC16, clocking just 0.4 seconds shy of his teammate Augusto Fernandez in the Valencia test last November.
Despite the Spanish rookie’s excellent adaptation skills, adapting to the KTM has always been a challenging task for the rookies in recent memory.
But can the teenage sensation carry the weight of expectations that have been put on his shoulders? Only time will tell!
On that note, I feel like KTM’s first real title challenge will come this year, and it will come with Binder leading the charge for the Austrian brand.
They will be the strongest challengers to Ducati alongside Aprilia for the upcoming championship.
Despite not having won a race in 2023 season, KTM had their best season to date, amassing 6 podiums and 2 sprint wins, with Binder finishing as the top non-Ducati rider in 4th in the rider’s championship.
With some major improvements to their 2024 challenger and the concession rules in their favor, who is to say that the Binder-KTM won’t be giving Ducati a run for their money.
5- Hotly contested inter-team battles to be the story of 2024
2024 is going to be a year of inter-team rivalries, or, in Ducat’s case, inter-constructor rivalries.
Starting with the ominous eight-rider lineup of Ducati. Bagnaia, Martin, and Bezzecchi will be the favourites to compete for the world championship going into the 2024 season, whereas riders like Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio will be looking to continue their strong end to 2023.
Add in a certain Marc Marquez, and you have the perfect recipe for a Ducati demolition job.
It would be wrong of me to exclude the Beast from this conversation, as he did endure massive injuries throughout 2023 and will be looking for redemption year come 2024.
On Yamaha’s side of the garage, we have an exciting pairing of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, who on paper look to be the best pairing of 2024.
Aprilia will have their familiar lineup from 2023, with Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales at the front, and we did see how close these two were in the championship standings, finishing just next to each other in fifth and sixth.
All in all, most teams will be facing dense competition from within.
4- Second Lenovo Ducati seat up for grabs
The second factory seat is the most sought-after seat going into 2024, thanks to Bastianini’s disastrous, injury-ridden 2023 campaign.
Bastianini suffered a terrible start to his first year in red, having sustained gruesome shoulder injuries in Portugal after contact with Luca Marini in the Sprint race, only to sustain further injuries to his left ankle and hand after an ambitious first corner melee at the Catalan Grand Prix
Meanwhile, Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin and Mooney VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzechi went on to score their best performances of their careers, with the former even taking the fight to Bagnaia till the last grand prix of the season.
Bastianini even found himself in the odd situation of being replaced by Jorge Martin for 2024, had Martin won the title in Valencia.
With rising pressure from his Ducati stablemates and in particular from Jorge Martin, Bastianini will have to stamp his authority early on to retain his factory Ducati seat post 2024.
3- Bagnaia Vs Martin – Round Two?
2023 saw a nail-biting conclusion to the world championship, with Francesco Bagnaia just edging Jorge Martin for his second world championship.
Despite a definitive end to their 2023 season rivalry, many believe that this is just the start of what’s to come.
Jorge Martin will be looking for a fast start to his 2024 campaign by continuing his strong form from the second half of 2023.
Bagnaia on the other hand, will be looking for more of the same going into 2024 by countering Martin with a cool, calm race-centric approach that won him the world title.
2- First satellite world champion since 2000?
Twenty four years ago, Rossi won the 500cc world title by becoming the first world champion for a satellite team.
Jorge Martin almost did repeat the history last year, only to fall short of Francesco Bagnaia at the championship finale in Valencia.
With Bagnaia having won two world championships on the trot for the works Ducati team, it would be a daunting task for the champion to fend off six highly competitive satellite riders.
Jorge Martin will start the season as the closest threat to Bagnaia’s reign, if he is able to display a similar level of pace and consistency to the one he showed in the second half of 2023.
Bezzecchi also boasted a strong challenge for the 2023 world championship on a year-old Ducati, only for his pursuit to disappear after sustaining a collarbone injury late into the season. So, he will also be on the lookout to follow mentor’s footsteps by being the first satellite team world champion since Valentino Rossi. And what a way it would be to win on Rossi’s own team!
Marc Márquez is another big name addition to the list of satellite riders looking to stake his claim as a world champion in 2024. With just a one-year contract with the Gresini squad, Márquez will be looking for a strong result to secure his shot at the second Ducati Lenovo team.
In conclusion, the prospects of seeing a first Satellite World Champion are quite high for the 2024 world championship.
1- Marc Marquez on the prowl
I mean, who else should be at number one?
Marc Marquez made headlines in the Valencia Test by ending the day fourth fastest, just 0.178 seconds off the benchmark time set by Maverick Vinales.
With such an impressive debut, you can’t blame the fans for what Marc Marquez brings to the table in 2024.
Championship protagonists like Bagnaia and Martin have already predicted Marquez’s quick transition to Ducati, with Martin even predicting an early advantage for Marquez aboard his 2023 spec Desmocedici.
This praise will come as no surprise, as Marquez is by far the most decorated rider of this generation.
With Marquez opting for just one year with the Gresini Team, he will be on the lookout for better factory options from both Ducati and KTM.
