Yamaha WorldSBK title challenger Toprak Razgatlioglu dominated the first ever free practice session at Most this morning, opening a six-tenth gap over the pack.
The Turkish rider set a 1’33.022 to best Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes in second place. The British rider went to runner-up spot late on with a 1’33.622 with Ducati’s Scott Redding third on a 1’33.633.
Razgatlioglu fired in a flurry of fast times at the end of the first ever session at Most, as the Turkish rider enjoyed the Yamaha R1’s feeling at the Czech circuit by appearing in the top two of every sector’s ideal sector times.
Lowes came on strong at the end of the session, while Redding got the session off to a bright start and held first place from the middle of the session until Toprak took over.
The British rider gelled well with the track on Friday morning, finishing third and making it three manufacturers inside the top three. Two Yamahas inside the top four as wildcard Marvin Fritz (IXS-YART-Yamaha) shone brightly in the first session, even leading it at one point. Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) continued his strong form from Assen to complete the top five.
Championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was sixth and put in a solid start to his weekend, while seventh was Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and the 2013 WorldSBK Champion was fastest of the BMWs.
Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) flew the Honda flag in eighth place and was the fastest rider in a straight line during the opening session. Home-hero wildcard Karel Hanika (IXS-YART Yamaha) was ninth as the wildcard impressed, whilst Yamaha had five riders inside the top ten as Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took tenth.
Outside the top ten, Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in 11th and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in 13th. Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) returned to action and was inside the top five as the session started before finishing 15th.
Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) was only 17th, Alessandro Delbianco’s (MIE Racing Honda Team) return saw him in 21st, one place behind fellow returnee Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport – Yamaha) and Jayson Uribe’s (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) WorldSBK debut saw the American finish in 23rd.
