As the minutes closed in on the final Free Practice session at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, it was the reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista [Aruba.It Racing – Ducati] who set the pace for the weekend to come.

If the World Supersport Official Test is anything to go by, the ensuing pack will be fighting to keep with Nicolo Bulega [Aruba.It Racing – Ducati] who didn’t put a foot wrong throughout the two-day test at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Nicolo Bulega [Aruba.It Racing WorldSSP Team] has set the benchmark high in WorldSSP on the conclusion of their third Free Practice session for the Official Test, with Stefano Manzi [Ten Kate Racing Yamaha] and Can Oncu [Kawasaki Puccetti Racing] following closely behind.

Australian rider Remy Gardner is settling in nicely to life as a WorldSBK rider in the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team. The Australian Official Test has proved positive for the 2021 Moto2 World Champion, who has been in hot contention in the Independent times.

Day 2 of the Official Test got underway this morning, with World Superbikes first out on track at 9.10am (AEDST) to commence today’s proceedings with a two-hour FP1 session.

It was a busy day for Alvaro Bautista [Aruba.It Racing – Ducati] on Day 1 of the Official Test at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, which he hailed as “a day of comparing different set-ups”.