Scott Redding on record pace as WorldSBK powers into life

The resumption of the 2020 WorldSBK Championship may be a little more than a month away still, but Kawasaki and Ducati have wasted no time in getting back into groove during a private test at Misano, with Scott Redding showing record pace.

The two manufacturers, plus a handful of privateer entries, descended on the Adriatic circuit for two days of testing as they prepare for the ‘new normal’ of competing with reduced crews and social distancing measures.

Nonetheless, it remained very much business as usual on track as Redding powered to a time of 1m 33.067s on the resurfaced circuit, an unofficial lap time that comes in quicker than Tom Sykes’ record-breaking Superpole time from 2018.

That was enough to place him two tenths ahead of Jonathan Rea, who recovered from a sizeable crash on Wednesday to come away with the second-best lap.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi on the GoEleven Ducati slotted into third place, ahead of current championship leader Alex Lowes in fourth, with Chaz Davies – who could be given a stay of execution at Ducati following Danilo Petrucci’s move to KTM in MotoGP – proving fifth best.

The times were rounded out by Leandro Mercado and Sylvain Barrier on the Motocorsa and Brixx Ducatis, the pair set to join the WorldSBK ranks when the season returns to action in Jerez next month having skipped the opener in Australia.

Meanwhile, Leon Camier was on course for Barni Ducati as he steadily works himself back into competitiveness following a long spell out through injury.