Australia WorldSBK: Tetsuta Nagashima impresses on Superbike debut, claims MotoGP bike is ‘more difficult’

Tetsuta Nagashima made an impressive start to his first weekend as a WorldSBK rider as he finished sixth on combined times during Friday Practice at Phillip Island. 
Tetsuta Nagashima, Honda WorldSBK Phillip Island
Tetsuta Nagashima, Honda WorldSBK Phillip Island

Nagashima recently substituted for 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Takaaki Nakagami in MotoGP following a maide🎉n appearance in the premier class at Aragon as a wildcard.

And after showing good speed, the Japanese rider, who led Honda’s charge to victory at the Suzuka 8 hour race in August, was called up to replace 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Iker Lecuonaꦬ after the Spaniard was ruled out of the season-finale earlier this week. 

Inside the top ten during FP1, Nagashima made even more steps forward in FP2 as he began to challenge for 🍷a top five p𝐆osition late on.

Nagashima eventually finished sixth after 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Andrea Locatelli managed to overhaul the Japanese rider - Nagashima finished +0.148s behind the Italian and seven tenths off 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Jonathan Rea, who topped both sessions for Kawasaki.  💫;

A very happy Nagashima was surprised at h💞is level of performance, even after riding at Phillip Island last month for LCR Honda in MotoGP: "No, I’m not expecting this [sixth place]! I felt good today; P6 in FP2 is not bad. 

"I was expecting to struggle a little more because this is my 💯first time here in WorldSB𒊎K and pretty much my first time on Pirelli tyres. 

"I raced here a few weeks ago in MotoGP of course, and that helped a bit in that I was immediately able to find pace𒐪 with the CBR. I think the MotoGP bike is a little bit more difficult. 

"When I ride the Superbike, it was a bit easier because I have experience 🧜from 𒁃the Suzuka 8 Hours with a bike I know well."

Given this is Nagashima’s first taste of WorldSBK machinery, the decision from Pirelli to introduce three new rear tyre options will have little effect on him as the standard SCX and SC0 compounds that other riders are familiar with - both are not available in ꧙Australia - have not been used by Nagashima before.

Still, adapting to Pirelli tyres was one of the bigge𒊎st chall🍰enges he faced: "The main thing was adapting to the tyres and to the set-up for this package,” continued Nagashima. 

"There are still some things we can work on because I made just one fast lap. I need to improve my pace too, because the race is 22 laps, so we need consisten♓cy. 

"I don’t honestly know what to expect from the rest of the week🎀end in terms of results, but you can be sure I’ll do my very best. 

"The team is working hard and everything is going very smoothly so far. I already knew some of the guys from my time in Moto2 so the team is like family and I felt good right away. I’m really enj🐭oying the weekend and this WorldSBK experience."

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Xavi Vierge close to a second off WorldSBK debutant Nagashima

Xavi Vierge Australian WorldSBK, 18 November
Xavi Vierge Australian WorldSBK, 18 November

Whi𓆉le Vierge was making his first appearance at Phillip Island aboard a Superbike, the gap between himself and his fellow rookie for the weekend was a sizable one.

Vierge, who was towards the bottom of the leaderboard during the early stages of FP2, finished ninth ten𝓰ths down on Nagashima on a weekend where the Spaniard needs to deliver as Honda look to hol▨d off BMW for fourth in the Manufacturer’ standings - the gap is currently three points.

After struggling to find performance, Vierge said: "Today has been challenging for us, also because it’s a long time siౠnce I last raced here at Phillip Island. 🔯;

"FP1 was not so bad🐲, and we regained confidence with the track and with the bike at this track. Then we tried a set-up change for FP2 but it didn’ﷺt work as we’d hoped. 

"Luckily the team was able to react very quickly, a💃nd we were able to make a final run that proved much more positive in terms of feeling, even with a very used tyre. 

"So we rounded out the day on a🐲 positive note and tomorrow we should ꦦbe able to head straight in the right direction. 

"With one eye on the weather though, becaus𒅌e today we were blessed with almost ideal conditions but th♋e forecast for the rest of the weekend is not so good."

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