Iannone and Redding impress as Ducati take top 3 positions, Rea fastest on sodden day 2, Gardner fastest Yamaha overall

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the fastest rider of all in what was finally a form of ‘hybrid’ Jerez pre-season shakedown test for the vast majority of the new WorldSBK grid. The action was split between a one-day test in dry but very windy track conditions and a subsequent second day session, held in the wet from start to finish.

Bulega topped the test

Bulega’s best dry time of 1’38.731 was 0.450 seconds faster than the next rider, Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven Ducati). Like most riders, these two did not compete on the second day, when rain and a wet track surface were present all day.

A remarkable first Ducati comeback ride for Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing Ducati) placed him third quickest, ahead of the only Kawasaki rider in the entire championship in 2025, Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team). He is, at least, a full factory rider.

Redding impressed on his return to Ducati

Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was fifth on the new Kawasaki-powered KB998 Rimini bike, complete with variable winglets. Bassani was one of those lucky few who rode on the wet second day.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati) was sixth overall, with Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) seventh on a works Honda that has returned to Öhlins suspension for 2025. Petrucci was the last rider inside the same second as fastest man Bulega.

Honda are now using Ohlins suspension

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was eighth overall, with the Lowes boys – Sam (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati) and Alex (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) – rounding out the top ten, in that order.

Notable absentee on the new-for-2025 BMW M1000RR was Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) after injuring his right middle finger in an off-road training crash. He hopes to be at Portimao for the next test, between January 28 and 29. (Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) was another high profile absentee, due to an off-season training injury).

Michael van der Mark took care of BMW’s day 1 test duties in Toprak’s absence

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was at Jerez and finished 11th fastest on the refreshed 2025 model BMW. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took home the status of top Yamaha rider on site, in 12th place.

On a wet day two only a few top names ventured out on track, with Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) going from 13th on a dry Wednesday to the fastest wet-weather rider on Thursday.

The track action across what were, in reality, three days of testing included some WorldSSP riders who were on track on Tuesday 21st January – and even some on Wednesday, mixing it up with the Superbikes.

Rea was fastest in wet conditions on day 2

There were also some test riders for the new BbKRT project, out on track one day before the regular riders took to the circuit. Most notably Xavi Fores, who is a new ‘lead’ test rider for bimota.

Marcel Schrötter (WRP Racing Ducati) was the fastest WorldSSP on the mixed WorldSSP/WorldSBK day on Wednesday, but he had earlier had to give best to returning WorldSSP rider Philipp Öttl (Team Feel Racing Ducati) on the opening day of WorldSSP action.

Remy Gardner was the fastest Yamaha overall

Rider quotes

Niccolo Canepa: “It’s good to be back with a great feeling. Today was a bit difficult because the wind was very, very strong, and I have to stay more focused on the wind than what I was doing on the bike, so it was a bit strange but the most important thing is that the feeling was good, like the last test of last year here in the same place. So I’m happy to start the new year with the same good feeling, and now we’ve started to work for this season. We cannot see the real level today because I was fast, but Toprak was not here, who last year was the fastest guy, so we have to check his lap times, his feeling with the bike. So I’m really happy for today because my feeling was good and also last year in the race week when he was here, I was quite good. So I’m looking forward to seeing him again on track together and then we will see.”

Alvaro Bautista:For sure it’s been two really difficult days, yesterday we were lucky that it didn’t rain, but it was too windy. I didn’t feel so comfortable riding in those conditions, but at least it was dry so we could at least make some first kilometres of the pre-season, to recover the feeling after 3 months without riding these bikes. So it was a positive to be back again racing, but for sure was not the best condition. Basically yesterday we didn’t use any new items from Ducati. For sure Ducati worked a lot during the winter but not for new items. We have to try to improve a little bit in some matters especially on the electronic side. Basically yesterday we continued the work we started in November that we changed absolutely all the bike to find another way to go fast because we need to make a step forward from 2024 and we tried different way to work. So yesterday we continue this work, we didn’t touch many things because with the conditions we have with the wind it was difficult to understand if it can be better or not, so basically we just make some kilometres to try to adapt the body, the feeling, the mind because after 3 months you need to restart the game.”

Xavi Vierge: “We’re back on track at last and I’m very happy with how this test has gone, it’s been very positive. Conditions stayed dry on Wednesday, albeit a little windy, and my feeling with the bike was pretty good right from the start. I’m working with a new crew chief, and my initial impression is very good; he’s very experienced and I think we can work well together. As for what we’ve been doing here, we worked to try and find a new suspension set-up and also focused on the electronics side of things. Sadly, rain cut into our track time on Thursday, but that allowed us to make some initial laps in the wet with the Öhlins suspension and understand more as a result. We still have work to do, but this should help us to find more in terms of traction, which has been something of a weak point for us. Then, in addition, we worked on different aspects to improve my overall feeling. I think we made some good progress this week and now have a lot of data to analyse. Next up is Portimão, where I hope we can enjoy some drier weather as we continue to prepare for the start of the season.”

Iker Lecuona: “In early January I had a small crash while training and unfortunately that left me with a fractured rib and a shoulder injury. Just before coming to Jerez, the doctor told me it would be better to wait a little longer before riding and so I’m sitting out this week’s test, in agreement with the team. I’m not in perfect shape but generally feel ok and will try to ride next week in Portugal. I’m doing my best to recover fast, following the doctors’ advice, and so we’ll see how it goes.”

Remy Gardner: “Overall it was nice to be back on the bike, and we had a productive test. Unfortunately, we couldn’t test the second day due to rain, missing some valuable track time, but on the first day we tried new things and the feedback was positive. Now let’s stay focused and hope the weather stays clear in Portimão for the next test, I’m looking forward to produce some more laps there.”

Dominique Aegerter: “It was good to be back on the bike after a long time and to test my body. It wasn’t easy to get used to the Yamaha R1 machine after a long period, but lap by lap I felt stronger and I wish we could have more laps. Unfortunately some technical issues forced us to lose some time, but we were still able to produce some productive laps in Jerez trying the new parts we have here. I hope the weather stays clear in Portimão and to clock many laps to get ready for the first round of the season.”

Jonathan Rea: “It’s been a positive test and it’s nice to be back – yesterday we got off to a really good start and wasted no time in getting up to speed, I felt good on my Yamaha R1 from the first laps and step-by-step we’ve just built on that. Pace was okay, we didn’t complete any time attacks and worked through the development programme. Held up in the garage a couple of times with just some small issues but I was satisfied with the first day! Woke up today and the weather was bad obviously, so we only managed wet laps and I did enjoy riding round familiarising myself more with the R1 in these conditions and honestly, we made some really positive changes! Big thanks to the crew for their efforts, two days of good information and now we more to Portugal in quick succession to keep putting the package together for Australia.”

Andrea Locatelli: “Even with the wind yesterday, we tried to ride a lot in the dry conditions and focused on completing a long run to re-establish a good feeling with my R1 after the winter. Today we didn’t do a lot of laps, but we tried some things on the bike to be a bit more ready for Portimão next week. It was helpful to do a small shakedown to check how everything is working in the wet, for example electronics and chassis set-up after yesterday and we will see! We have Portimão to work further, complete more distance and prepare for Phillip Island. The changing conditions here in Jerez were strange, a lot of wind – warm yesterday and today, wet. The most important thing is to continue building the feeling with my R1 and then we will have a clearer idea, working well towards our objectives for the 2025 season.”

Scott Redding: “My goal was try to go P1 on my first day… it’s a little bit ambitious, but you’ve got to aim high! I also had a yellow flag on my best lap so I lost a little bit of time. In general, to be top three on my first day and all of these guys have tested I think two times two days or three days since the end of the season; it was hard to get up to speed initially but when I found my rhythm and relaxed a little bit, I could build. My best lap was on the SCQ and then I did s 1’40 with the race tyre. The first day’s been really amazing. I wasn’t able to ride the bike at the end of the year, so I was realty eager. I finally got that feeling back on my fingertips. Today was worth waiting for! Today ended up being a really good day and a great start for me and the team.”

Yari Montella: “I’m quite happy for that. It’s nice but, in the end, we were just a few riders in strange conditions and the wet. We decided to ride because I need to ride in every condition because I need to keep the feeling with the bike, understand it in every condition. I’m happy for the test because it was complete: some dry, some wet.”

 

Position
Rider
Country
Team
Manufacturer
Fastest Time
Speed (km/h)
1
Niccolo Bulega
ITA
Ducati Aruba.it
Ducati
1:38.731
268.7
2
Andrea Iannone
ITA
Team Goeleven
Ducati
1:39.181
272.0
3
Scott Redding
GBR
MGM Bonovo
Ducati
1:39.280
269.3
4
Garrett Gerloff
USA
Kawasaki
Kawasaki
1:39.332
267.3
5
Axel Bassani
ITA
BbKRT
Bimota
1:39.463
268.7
6
Danilo Petrucci
ITA
Barni Spark Racing
Ducati
1:39.548
274.1
7
Xavi Vierge
ESP
Team HRC
Honda
1:39.916
267.3
8
Alvaro Bautista
ESP
Ducati Aruba.it
Ducati
1:40.135
270.7
9
Sam Lowes
GBR
ELF Marc VDS
Ducati
1:40.207
269.3
10
Alex Lowes
GBR
BbKRT
Bimota
1:40.270
267.3
11
Michael van der Mark
NED
Rokit BMW
BMW
1:40.285
266.7
12
Remy Gardner
AUS
GYTR GRT Yamaha
Yamaha
1:40.293
264.7
13
Jonathan Rea
GBR
Pata Yamaha
Yamaha
1:40.368
263.4
14
Ryan Vickers
GBR
Motocorsa Racing
Ducati
1:40.586
268.7
15
Andrea Locatelli
ITA
Pata Yamaha
Yamaha
1:40.989
263.4
16
Bahattin Sofuoglu
TUR
Yamaha Motoracing
Yamaha
1:41.296
260.9
17
Markus Reiterberger
GER
BMW Motorrad
BMW
1:41.276
262.1
18
Yari Montella
ITA
Barni Spark Racing
Ducati
1:41.308
268.0
19
Dominique Aergerter
SWI
GYTR GRT Yamaha
Yamaha
1:41.488
261.5
20
Tetsuya Nagashima
JAP
HRC Test Team
Honda
1:41.498
260.9
21
Borja Gómez
ESP
Team HRC
Honda
1:41.525
261.5
22
Tito Rabat
ESP
Yamaha Motoracing
Yamaha
1:41.591
264.7