WorldSBK Magny-Cours Friday FP Results | Razgatlioglu throws down early gauntlet

Toprak Razgatlioglu starts as he means to go on with the quickest time from Friday's two free practice sessions at Magny-Cours, France.

Toprak Razgatlioglu - Pata Yamaha R1

Toprak Razgatlioglu laid down the gauntlet to his WorldSBK Championship title rivals in free practice at Magny-Cours, Round 8 of the 2021 season.

The Turk comes into the weekend bidding to put some distance between himself and series leader Jonathan Rea after an eighth win of the season last time out at Navarra drew them level on points.

Returning to the scene of his first WorldSBK wins on the privateer Puccetti Kawasaki in 2019 - two successes famously achieved from 14th on the grid - Razgatlioglu was again in fine form around the French venue, putting two tenths between himself and the third rider locked in the title fight, Scott Redding.

With the best times coming in FP2 following a damp FP1 session, Rea was third quickest aboard the Kawasaki ZX-10RR, ahead of a resurgent Chaz Davies, the Welshman looking to impress potential employers Honda, who are searching for Alvaro Bautista’s replacement ahead of his switch to Ducati.

Fittingly it was Honda completing the top five, with Leon Haslam - who is yet to agree on a new deal for 2022 - in fifth place, ahead of the other ride vying for the vacant seat, Tom Sykes.

Garrett Gerloff, Alex Lowes, newly signed Ducati rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Michael van der Mark rounded out the top ten, the latter suffering a technical issue in FP2.

2021 WorldSBK Magny-Cours, France | Free Practice [FP1 + FP2] RESULTS

2021 WorldSBK Magny-Cours, France | Free Practice [FP1 + FP2] RESULTS | Round 8 / 13
PosRiderNat.WorldSBK TeamSuperbikeTiming
1Toprak RazgatliogluTURPata Yamaha by BRIXXYamaha YZF-R11m 37.138
2Scott ReddingGBRAruba Racing DucatiDucati Panigale V4 R1m 37.346
3Jonathan ReaGBRKawasaki Racing TeamKawasakI ZX-10RR1m 37.426
4Chaz DaviesGBRTeam GoElevenDucati Panigale V4 R1m 37.472
5Leon HaslamGBRTeam HRC HondaHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 37.545
6Tom SykesGBRBMW Motorrad WorldSBKBMW M1000RR1m 37.607
7Garrett GerloffUSAGRT Yamaha WorldSBKYamaha YZF-R11m 37.635
8Alex LowesGBRKawasaki Racing TeamKawasakI ZX-10RR1m 37.668
9Michael Ruben RinaldiESPAruba Racing DucatiDucati Panigale V4 R1m 37.771
10Michael van der MarkNEDBMW Motorrad WorldSBKBMW M1000RR1m 37.808
11Andrea LocatelliITAPata Yamaha by BRIXXYamaha YZF-R11m 37.826
12Alvaro BautistaESPTeam HRC HondaHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 37.842
13Axel BassaniITAMotocorsa RacingDucati Panigale V4 R1m 38.234
14Lucas MahiasFRAPuccetti KawasakiKawasakI ZX-10RR1m 38.368
15Jonas FolgerGERBonovo MGM ActionBMW M1000RR1m 38.919
16Leandro MercadoESPMIE RacingHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 39.046
17Tito RabatESPBarni Racing TeamDucati Panigale V4 R1m 39.198
18Christophe PonssonFRAGil MotorsportYamaha YZF-R11m 39.407
20Kohta NozaneJPNGRT Yamaha WorldSBKYamaha YZF-R11m 39.764
21Loris CressonBELTPR Team Pedercini RacingKawasakI ZX-10RR1m 40.591