The WorldSBK contingent weren’t the only riders and teams out on track during two days of pre-season testing at Jerez this week as a handful of WorldSSP contenders also took the opportunity to get some miles in before next month’s Phillip Island season opener.
Though there was a smaller percentage of riders hitting the track in the temperate Spanish climes, it still included many of the anticipated front runners with 2023 WorldSSP runner-up Stefano Manzi ending up quickest of all.
The Italian, who was the only rider to keep dominant WorldSSP Champion Nicolo Bulega honest in 2023, stays in the intermediate class this season for a run at the title for what will be his third season in the category.
Sticking with Ten Kate Racing but now with full backing from Yamaha Europe, Manzi was a full 0.4s quicker than his nearest rival, Can Once.
The Turkish rider showed some encouraging pace aboard the new Kawasaki ZX-6R that he will race under the Puccetti Racing banner, putting him ahead of former Kawasaki stablemate Adrian Huertas, the Spaniard getting to grips with his new Ducati Panigale V2 having been selected as Aruba.it Racing’s nominated pick to replace WorldSBK-graduate Bulega.
Bahattin Sofuoglu and Marcel Schroetter were fourth and fifth best on the factory MV Agusta F3 800RRs. The Reparto Corse duo head up a larger MV Agusta contingent in 2024, the factory squad joined by Motozoo ME AIR Racing in running the F3 with its rider Federico Caricasulo seventh best.
Between them was Yari Montella on the BARNI Spark Racing Ducati, while Yamaha riders Lucas Mahias (GMT 94) and Glenn van Straalen (Ten Kate Racing) were eighth and ninth fastest.
In all, 13 riders were present for the test but there was no participation from three key manufacturers with Triumph – which features Tom Booth-Amos and John McPhee among its stable – Honda and newcomers QJMotor not on track
| ⏱️ 2024 WorldSSP | Pre-Season Testing Results | Day 2 [Combined] | Jerez, Spain 🇪🇦 | |||||
| Rider | Nat | Team | Bike | Lap Time | |
| 1 | Stefano Manzi | 🇮🇹 | Ten Kate Racing | Yamaha R6 | 1m 41.388 |
| 2 | Can Oncu | 🇹🇷 | Kawasaki Puccetti Racing | Kawasaki ZX-6R | 1m 41.724 |
| 3 | Adrian Huertas | 🇪🇦 | Aruba.it Racing | Ducati Panigale V2 | 1m 41.942 |
| 3 | Bahattin Sofuoglu | 🇹🇷 | MV Agusta Reparto Corse | MV Agusta F3 800 RR | 1m 41.977 |
| 5 | Marcel Schroetter | 🇩🇪 | MV Agusta Reparto Corse | MV Agusta F3 800 RR | 1m 42.015 |
| 6 | Yari Montella | 🇮🇹 | BARNI Spark Racing | Ducati Panigale V2 | 1m 42.102 |
| 7 | Federico Caricasulo | 🇮🇹 | Motozoo ME AIR Racing | MV Agusta F3 800 RR | 1m 42.234 |
| 8 | Lucas Mahias | 🇫🇷 | GMT94 | Yamaha R6 | 1m 42.590 |
| 9 | Glenn van Straalen | 🇳🇱 | Ten Kate Racing | Yamaha R6 | 1m 43.245 |
| 10 | Niccolo Antonelli | 🇮🇹 | Ecosantagata Althea Racing | Ducati Panigale V2 | 1m 43.282 |
| 11 | Gabriele Giannini | 🇮🇹 | Prodina Kawasaki Racing | Kawasaki ZX-6R | 1m 43.671 |
| 12 | Piotr Biesiekirski | 🇵🇱 | Ecosantagata Althea Racing | Ducati Panigale V2 | 1m 43.746 |
| 13 | Hikari Okubo | 🇯🇵 | Vince64 Racing by Puccetti | Kawasaki ZX-6R | 1m 44.404 |
