WorldSBK: Remy Gardner fastest as Rea makes his Yamaha debut

The first day of testing for the 2024 WorldSBK season comes to an end with Gardner fastest.

The first day of testing is over for the 2024 WorldSBK testing with Remy Gardner ( GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) fastest. Just days after the season came to an end the riders are back on the Jerez circuit for testing. There were mixed conditions throughout the day with rain eventually stopping fast laps.

Gardner set his fast lap time in the morning session before lunch and ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Motocorsa Racing). It was Rinaldi’s first day with the Motocorsa team as he replaces Bassani. Dominque Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was third, just two-tenths behind his teammate.

It is the start of one of the biggest moves in WorldSBK history with Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) joining Yamaha. He was fourth after day one and is settling in well with the team. Rea did have a small crash at turn 13, after hitting a wet patch on track and set just 12 laps.

Consecutive WorldSBK Champion, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fifth at the end of day one. Bautista had a crash of his own at turn 13, bringing out the red flag early in the day.

Garrett Gerloff (MGM Bonovo) was sixth in the WorldSBK class after the first day of testing, ending the day as the top BMW. It would just be the two Bonovo machines on the circuit with Toprak Razgatlioglu unable to ride the new machine under his current contract.

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) managed to make it back on track after a crash in the Superpole Race. Lowes was seventh, completing 14 laps throughout the mixed day at Jerez.

Changes of teams, championships, and returns

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ended his first day in the WorldSBK class in eighth position. Bulega will step up to the Superbike class after winning the WorldSSP title for the Aruba.it Ducati team.

Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo) completed his first laps on the satellite BMW, after two years with the factory squad. Redding was ninth after the first day of preseason testing at the Jerez circuit.

Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has the tough task of replacing Rea at Kawasaki in 2024. Bassani will switch from Ducati and was down in 10^th after the first day In green.

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) completed his first official sanctioned event since 2019 and his first In WorldSBK. Iannone looked comfortable onboard the Ducati, replacing Phillipp Oettl in the team. At the end of day one, the Italian was down in 11^th position as he continued to learn the machine.

Bradley Ray (Yamaha GMT94 WorldSBK Team) joined the GMT94 team at the Jerez preseason test. Ray has not announced what Championship or team he will be racing in next season. The 2022 British Superbike Champion was 12^th in his first test with the Yamaha team.

Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was 13^th and the final WorldSBK rider in the time sheets. Mackenzie hasn’t officially announced a ride for next year with rumours suggesting that he will race for the MIE team in Superbikes.

Image credit: worldsbk.com