The opening day of WorldSBK action at Magny-Cours🐼 went very much the way of Pata Yamaha rid꧋er Toprak Razgatlioglu. 

The current championship leader was consistently quicker than anyone during the race simulations, 𓆉before emphatically setting a time of 1:37.138s which was over two tenth♔s faster than Scott Redding. 

His biggest title rival at present, Jonathan Rea was a further tenth back in th💃ird after topping a less representative FP1 session due to track action being limited because of damp conditions.

While fast in the changing conditions this morning - finished fifth, Razgatlioglu’s 15 lap race simulation this afternoon left him ‘very positive’, so much so ‘that now we are ready to race’.&nbs꧋p; 

Razgatlioglu added: "Today in the first free practice, with the bad conditions it was not a really a𝓡n easy start and for me it is also the first time I ride a Yamaha at this track in the ﷽dry conditions.

"We changed some set-up for FP2 and I am feeling much better! I trꦯied a race simulation of 15 laps – 🍒which was very, very positive. 

"We are happy because we found a good improvement in the aftern🎃oon, the R1 is working very well here and now we are ready to race. We need to win again, and I aim to fight for the victory."

For Razgatlioglu’s team-mate Andrea Locatelli, it was an opening day that didn’t see him lighಞt up the times as we’ve seen in recent rounds. 

However, the Italian ✨was happy with the work done on his first visit to Magny-Cours with WorldSBK machinery. 

"It was a difficult first day in the end, but also I am happy - we don’t see a top position overall but we work very well," said🧸 Locatelli. 

"We tried to make a long run this afternoon, it is my first time here in Magny-Cours with this bike and tꦕhe pace was not so bad! 

"For sure we need to try to search for a little bit more speed, especially in se🎉ctor two, but in general I am happy because it is the first 𒉰time.

"We need to work a little bit around the ෴bik🅘e and also I need to understand the track, but tomorrow we can improve. 

"It’s not easy, I have never see💞n the track in the dry because last year in WorldSSP I only rode in the wet conditions, but we will see what is possible and for sure we will try to get the maximum."