The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s Motul Argentinean Round fired into life on Friday morning, with the Circuito San Juan Villicum playing host to the penultimate round of the season. After a sandstorm on Thursday, the track took some cleaning as the riders took to the circuit for the first time, although progress was made and soon the track is fine condition. After a short delay due to technical issues, the first overseas round since Phillip Island in 2020 was underway and it was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) who led the way by over half a second.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was the first rider into the 1’39s bracket and was in the 1’38s in the closing stages, setting a 1’38.524 to lead the way by over half a second. Scott Redding’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) San Juan debut was solid as he learnt his way around the track. He was inside the top three for the final moments, concluding in second place with a late last lap. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) left it 15 minutes before he took to the track, allowing a racing line to form and rubber in. Rea was on Toprak’s case and despite leading briefly at the end, finished third. Teammate Alex Lowes returned to action in fourth, whilst top Independent honours went to revelation Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), who was fifth.

Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was sixth with a late surge up the order, whilst there were plenty of Ducatis in the mix. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took seventh, one place ahead of Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) put a fast lap in on his return to action, finishing in eighth. Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) was ninth ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) who completed the top ten.

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) was also impressive as he set a string of fast laps at the end of the session, finishing in 12^th come the end of a late shuffle, whilst top BMW was Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in 13^th, having led the way in the very early stages. Home-hero Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) was in 15^th, as he looks to put on a good display in front of his local fans.

Top six after WorldSBK FP1 at San Juan, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’38.524s

2. Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.501s

3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.544s

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.774s

5. Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.940s

6. Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +1.065s

Watch the season’s final two rounds unfold in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!