much respected Scottish MotoGP racer from the 80s and 90s , Niall Mackenzie . Bahattin Sofuoglu , nephew of multiple World Supersport champion Kenan , becomes the second Turkish rider on the grid having joined the Yamaha Motoxracing team .
PRE-SEASON TESTING Six days of pre-season testing were planned for WorldSBK , two each at Jerez , Portimao and Phillip Island . Dry testing time at Jerez and Portimao was limited by poor weather , there being only one completely dry day , with wind and rain badly affecting the other days . Better weather at PI offered a last opportunity for the teams to test and set themselves up for the championship before the first round kicked off , at the same circuit , just three days after the conclusion of testing .
It ’ s always dangerous inferring too much from pre-season testing , as testing is testing and racing is racing . Cutting fast laps in testing isn ’ t the same as defending a lead when Toprak is on your six and about to go for a gap that no one else even knew existed . Having said that , there was no question that Bulega was quick and we already knew from last season that he can put up a fight when the racing gets close . Toprak was somewhat hampered in early testing because of an offroad-practice finger injury , causing him to miss Jerez test days but he acquitted himself well at Portimao and was pretty much fully recovered by the time he got to PI . A big highside at Siberia , a favourite for riders wanting airtime , wasn ’ t the best start to the Phillip Island test days for him and he was fortunate to escape more serious injury and he was able to return , battered and
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