Friday

Effective race preparation for Rabat during WorldSBK free practices at Most

Round eight of the Superbike World Championship is now underway at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. Rain was falling as the first free practice began but the track gradually dried as the session went on. Competing for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, Tito Rabat worked with his team to find the best possible setup for his Ninja and placed fifteenth at the end of FP1 with a fastest time of 1’40”299.

In the afternoon’s session, which ran on a dry track, the Spanish rider improved significantly in terms of lap time (1’34”634), finishing in nineteenth place in the day’s combined standings. Tomorrow will see Tito compete in FP3, the Superpole and the first of the weekend’s races.

Autodrom Most – Czech Republic
Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Gardner (Yamaha) – 3) Petrucci (Ducati) – 4) Rinaldi (Ducati – 5) Bassani (Ducati) – 6) Bautista (Ducati) …… 19) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Tito Rabat: “There was some ups and downs today. This morning, in the wet, I was able to check our wet setup, focusing particularly on the electronics. In the afternoon’s dry conditions, I found good feeling with the rear tyre, while we had some problems with the front, but I was nevertheless able to improve. We collected a lot of information today, especially regarding tyre consumption, and so I’m confident heading into tomorrow, when I’m sure we’ll be able to do a good job and take another step forward.”

Mahias crashes in WorldSSP free practice at Most and is twelfth

The first day of action making up the eighth Supersport World Championship round played out today at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. Riding for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing in place of the injured Can Oncu, Lucas Mahias had never ridden at this circuit with a Supersport bike until today, and so used the first practice session to adapt to the track and define the best setup for his ZX-6R. The Frenchman appeared at ease around the Czech track and closed sixth, with a time of 1’36”399. In the afternoon’s session, Mahias was able to improve almost immediately on his morning’s best (1’35”969), but he then fell victim to a crash that left him with contusions to his left leg and ankle. Despite this, Lucas placed twelfth in the day’s combined standings and will be back out tomorrow for Superpole, followed by the first of the weekend’s WorldSSP races.

Autodrom Most – Czech Republic
Supersport World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Huertas (Kawasaki) – 3) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 4) Navarro Yamaha) – 5) De Rosa (Ducati) …….. 12) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias: “The day started well, and I immediately felt comfortable on the bike. I almost immediately improved at the start of FP2 and was working to further lower my time when unfortunately I suffered a high-speed crash. I was taken to the medical centre where they ruled out any fractures, but my left leg is very painful. I hope I’m able to ride tomorrow during Superpole and Race 1.”

Saturday

Rabat in the points after a chaotic Race One at Most

The eighth WorldSBK round heated up today at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic with the Superpole and the first of the weekend’s Superbike races.

In yesterday’s free practices, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Tito Rabat finished nineteenth while today, after making some final changes to the setup of his Ninja during FP3, he competed in Superpole, which establishes the grid positions for the first two races. With a time of 1’33”440, Tito placed twentieth, which meant he lined up on row six of the grid for the afternoon’s first race, which got underway in the rain. Considering the track conditions, the Spaniard and his team opted to use rain tyres. Unfortunately, the rain soon stopped, and the track began to dry. Rabat came into the pits to change his tyres and, once back on track, was able to finish the race in fifteenth place, scoring one championship point in the process.

Autodrom Most – Czech Republic
Superbike World Championship
Superpole: Superpole: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Petrucci (Ducati) – 3) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 4) Gardner (Yamaha) – 5) Bassani (Ducati) – 6) Rea (Kawasaki) …….. 20) Rabat (Kawasaki)
Race 1: Gara1: 1) Rea (Kawasaki) – 2) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 3) Petrucci (Ducati) – 4) Redding (BMW) – 5) Lecuona (Honda) – 6) Locatelli (Yamaha) …… 15) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Tito Rabat: “We earned one point at the end of a very difficult race. The track was wet at first but then the rain stopped and it started to dry, forcing me to come in and change tyres. Despite the pitstop, I was able to reach the points zone, lapping fast in both wet and dry conditions and scoring a result that leaves us hopeful ahead of tomorrow’s races. We’ll now analyse the data collected to try and further improve the bike setup. I want to thank the team and all our sponsors.”

Mahias reaches the points zone in a difficult WorldSBK Race One at Most

The first race making up round eight of the Supersport World Championship took place today at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. Riding for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing in place of the injured Can Oncu, Lucas Mahias suffered a crash during yesterday’s FP2 but was back on track this morning for the Superpole, despite a painful left leg. With a time of 1’35”603, the Frenchman placed fifteenth, which meant a spot on row five of the grid for the afternoon’s race. In the first few moments though, through the very first chicane, Mahias was pushed off track together with other riders. Lucas crashed and damaged his bike. Race direction stopped the race with a red flag, with Mahias able to return to the pits with his bike, which his team repaired in record time ready for the restart. Despite these setbacks and having to grit his teeth and ignore the pain in his leg, Mahias was able to cross the line in fourteenth place and score two championship points.
Tomorrow the Frenchman will compete in the weekend’s second and final WorldSSP race.

Autodrom Most – Czech Republic
Supersport World Championship
Superpole: 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Manzi (Yamaha) – 3) De Rosa (Ducati) – 4) Montella (Ducati) – 5) Sofuoglu (MV Agusta) …….. 15) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Race 1 – 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Manzi (Yamaha) – 3) Sofuoglu (MV Agusta) – 4) De Rosa (Ducati) – 5) Huertas (Kawasaki) – 6) Schroetter (MV Agusta).…….. 14) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias: “Today was in part conditioned by the leg injury I sustained yesterday, as this limited me in the changes of direction. Qualifying didn’t go well and I had to start a way back on the grid. At turn one I was pushed off track and crashed. After the red flag, my technicians did really well to fix the bike and allow me to restart and, although it was tough, I was able to reach the points zone. It’s not the kind of result we’re looking for, but it was difficult to do more today. We’ll try again tomorrow in race 2.”

Sunday

The WorldSBK round at Most concludes positively for Rabat

The eighth round of the Superbike World Championship has concluded today at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. On Saturday, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Tito Rabat qualified twentieth in Superpole, before reaching the points zone in race 1, crossing the line fifteenth at the end of a race complicated by ever-changing track conditions.

Tito was back on track this morning for the Superpole Race, a sprint running over just ten laps. Rabat made a very fast start, immediately making up positions. A consistent rhythm saw the Spaniard climb up the field to finish the race fifteenth.

Race 2 ran in the afternoon over a distance of 22 laps. Rabat again started well but was forced off track at the very first corner after coming into contact with another rider. He returned to the track towards the back of the field but over subsequent laps, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider pushed hard to make up some of the lost ground and conclude the race in eighteenth place.

The next WorldSBK round will run at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France on 8-10 September.

Autodrom Most – Czech Republic
Superbike World Championship
Superpole Race: Superpole Race: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Rea (Kawasaki) – 3) Bautista (Ducati) – 4) Bassani (Ducati) – 5) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 6) Gardner (Yamaha) …… 15) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Race 2: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Petrucci (Ducati) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) – 4) Bassani (Ducati) – 5) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 6) Gardner (Yamaha) – 7) Locatelli (Yamaha) ………. 18) Rabat (Kawasaki)

Tito Rabat: “A positive weekend overall, at least up until the Superpole race. We’ve learned a few things about the behaviour of our bike in the wet and we were quick in the dry. In race 2 I started well but someone pushed me off track at turn 1 and I was at the back of the field when I returned to the track. I tried to make up as many positions as possible but unfortunately, I didn’t have the feeling with the rear, and I couldn’t do more than eighteenth. A big thank you to the team as they have done a great job as always.”

An unlucky WorldSSP Race Two for Mahias at Most

The eighth round of the Supersport World Championship has concluded today at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic, with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing fielding Lucas Mahias in place of the injured Can Oncu. Despite the rider not being in perfect shape following a crash in free practice on Friday, the Frenchman was able to conclude yesterday’s Superpole in fifteenth place, before crossing the line fourteenth in race 1.

This afternoon Mahias was on track for race 2 and, like yesterday, he lined up on the fifth row of the grid. The Frenchman made a lightning start that allowed him to make up many positions straight off the line. Lucas was up into seventh when he made a small mistake and crashed through a turn, damaging his bike and therefore unable to continue with the race. The rider was unhurt, but the incident was a pity in that Lucas could have run a strong race today.

The next WorldSSP is scheduled to take place on 8-10 September at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France.

Autodrom Most – Czech Republic
Supersport World Championship

Race 2 – 1) MacKenzie (Honda) – 2) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 3) Sofuoglu (MV Agusta) – 4) McPhee (Kawasaki) -5) Norrodin (Honda) .…….. DNF) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias: “Unfortunately I don’t have much to say because my race didn’t even last one lap. I made a really good start and immediately had great pace, which allowed me to move up to seventh. Unfortunately, I then crashed through one of the last turns and was unable to continue. I’m really sorry, especially for the team as I would have loved to give them a good result today, but I was unlucky once again. Thanks to the team and all our sponsors.”