Sam Lowes set the pace on the opening day of the WorldSBK test at Jerez, stopping the clock at 1:38.790. BMW’s Miguel Oliveira was more than half a second slower, in a session marked by a notably reduced entry after the season finale.

Honda’s factory team remained in Andalucia with Jake Dixon, Somkiat Chantra and test rider Jonathan Rea. Rea rode a camouflage-liveried CBR1000RR-R and posted the third-fastest time. Chantra was fourth, narrowly ahead of Dixon.

Oliveira finished more than half a second behind Lowes, while BMW test rider Michael van der Mark completed the top six. Van der Mark’s gap to Lowes’ benchmark was 1.790 seconds.

The test is especially relevant for riders expected to hold full-time race seats next season, giving them an opportunity to evaluate Michelin’s new WorldSBK tyres. The supplier switch ends the championship’s 23-year partnership with Pirelli. At the same time, Pirelli is set to replace Michelin in MotoGP next season.