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Given the circumstances, Dominique Aegerter was not dissatisfied with his performance during his first test of the year. The 33-year-old WorldSBK rider completed a tight program on Tuesday and finished in 13th place after 98 laps, 1.1 seconds behind the best time.

The long wait for the first laps aboard his Yamaha Superbike has left its mark on Dominique Aegerter. The closer the official test on Phillip Island approached, which was originally scheduled for two days but was shortened to one day due to logistical delays, the more nervous the experienced motorcycle racer became.

In the end, however, Aegerter did well and got into a better rhythm from lap to lap. He wants to improve more before the championship opener this weekend at the Phillip Island Circuit on the picturesque island of the same name in the south of Australia to get off to a successful start.

The 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship comprises twelve events, with the round in Australia being the only one in oversea in the current race calendar.

#77 Dominique AEGERTER (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, Yamaha YZF R1)

"In the last week I was very nervous, because four months without riding a race bike was a long time for me. I also did not know how my body would feel after four weeks without training. But I am very happy that I can ride again, and even more at this beautiful track and in this beautiful weather. I was also really looking forward to seeing the whole GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK team again. They always cheered me up when I was not doing so well recently. Of course, I needed a few laps at the beginning to get used to the bike again, to the engine power and also to the speed, because racing down the straight at 320 km/h is not something you do that often in the winter months. After this day, my body feels a little stiff but luckily I now have two days to recover."

"As far as the test is concerned, we worked hard all day. Of course, I would have preferred to achieve a better position at the end. But because of the virus infection I had, we could not start on-track preparations earlier. That is why we are a bit behind the others though, the first race weekend starts on Friday and the first points will be scored on Saturday. Until then, we will work hard to be more prepared and to be among more towards the front. Finally, I would like to thank the doctors who helped me make a speedy recovery. Thanks also to the fans, who have always motivated me, as well as to my team and all the sponsors."

Free Practice Times Official WorldSBK Test Phillip Island:
1 Toprak RAZGATLIOGLU / TUR / ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M1000 RR / 1´28.511
2 Nicolo BULEGA / ITA / Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4R / 1´28.585 +0.074
3 Andrea LOCATELLI / ITA / Pata Prometeon Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 / 1´28.835 +0.324
13 #77 Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1 / 1´29.648 +1.137

WorldSBK Calendar 2024:
23/24/25 February - Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Australia
22/23/24 March - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
19/20/21 April - TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands
14/15/16 June - Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy
12/13/14 July - Donington Park, Great Britain
19/20/21 July - Autodrom Most, Czech Republic
9/10/11 August - Autódromo Internacionale do Algarve, Portugal
23/24/25 August - Balaton Park Circuit, Hungary
6/7/08 September - Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France
20/21/22 September - Cremona Circuit, Italy
27/28/29 September - MotorLand Aragón, Spain
18/19/20 October - Circuito de Jerez, Spain