With the WorldSSP season-opener just a few days from get🦄ting underway, Yari Montella produced a new lap record as he topped the timingsheets ahead of fellow Italian Federico Caricasulo.

Montella delivered a brilliant time of 1:31.881s as he completed a🃏 total of 98 laps during the one-day test.

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Behind the leading duo came Stefano Manzi, who is the title-favourite after finis♛hing second to Nicolo Bulega in 2023.

The top ten saw a good mix of machines as Ducati, MV Agusta, Yamaha, Ka🧜wasakiꩲ and Triumph were all represented.

Speaking at the end of the test, Montella said: “It was great! We enjoyed the ne🍬w tarmac a l🍸ot. We worked a lot on race pace and tried to do a time attack.

“I’m happy because it was unexpected; I found a good feeling and g🌟ood pace with the bike.

“There was a lꦫot of grip; from last year’s race pace, I think I went 2s quicker than last year and it’s good tarmac for sure.”

Alth🔴ough Montella and Caricasulo finished the test with a good margin between them and the rest of 💝the field, a lot of rides were competitive at different stages.

Monte♌lla, is aboard the Ducati Panigale V2 which won the championship last season, expects the 2024 campaig🔥n to be very close.

“Now, we need to rest because today we didꦿ a lot of laps,” began the Italian. “We’ll eat well and ✃enjoy this island. I saw a lot of riders faster in this test: Caricasulo, Huertas, Manzi, Schroetter, Oncu, a lot!

“Let’s see but 𝓀I hope to stay where I ℱam and enjoy the weekend and the start of the season. I like this circuit; we were fast last year but in Race 1, I broke my collarbone.

“I hope this 🅘year is better than 2023 and we’ll try to do our best!”