Jonathan Rea earned a boost heading into the final portion of the 2023 WorldSBK Championship season after setting the pace during the in-season test MotorLand Aragon.

After loaning his KRT Kawasaki ZX-10RR to WorldSSP rider Adrian Huertas for a day, the Ulsterman returned to the Kawasaki ZX-10RR to pump in a 1m 49.101secs lap, putting him quickest of those attending by less than a tenth.

Championship leader Bautista sat on the other side of that small margin, the Aruba.it Ducati rider winding himself up for a final push towards securing his second consecutive title with the factory squad.

- 2023 WorldSBK Championship Standings -

After setting a new lap record on Tuesday, Danilo Petrucci concluded a productive test in third place on the Barni Spark Ducati Panigale V4 R after posting an identical time to Bautista.

In fourth and sixth, HRC Honda duo Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge sandwiched the works Kawasaki of Alex Lowes, with Michael Ruben Rinaldi - who looks set to be searching for a new ride next season - chasing in seventh.

BMW brought up the rear with Michael van der Mark leading Bonovo counterpart Garrett Gerloff in eighth and ninth, while Scott Redding and Loris Baz followed up behind with similar lap times.

Finally, HRC test rider and Suzuka 8 Hours winner Tetsuta Nagashima showed competitively in 12th, just a tenth adrift of Baz ahead.