Rea, who struggled to match Razgatlioglu and WorldSBK champion Baꦆutista in 2022, got off to a slow start on day-one due to a rear brake issue.

However, on the final day of 💟action Rea was back in the mix with both riders as he split 𒁏the pair courtesy of 1:38.352s.

• 𒐪Petrucci: ‘Important to break the ice, race pace is already at a good level’
• Jerꦛez WorldSBK Test Results: Razgatlioglu top as Aegerter shines

Less than a tenth off Razgatlioglu come the end of play, Rea showed the type of pacꦜe that will give him and Kawasaki promise as they lꦰook to win their first title since 2020. 

But despite hisཧ battles with Razgatlioglu in both 2021 and 2022, which is also true f𓆉or Bautista in 2019 and last season, the six-time champion declared their battles as ‘not really a rivalry’. 

"It’s not really a rivalry, it’s just othe🦹r fast guys," Rea told WorldSBK.com. "They’re great riders and they’re going to be so competitive. At this point, I’m not really thinking of them, I’m thinking about our bike. 

"While we’re making some positꦓive steps, we still have a long way to go. We have a lot of work to do this winter, still. I expect to keep working in Portimao to put ✱things together and then I think Australia is the most positive test. 

🦩"I think WorldSBK now is so deep a field, the new guys that are coming in have got great credentials, great CVs. You have Danilo Petrucci, a MotoGP race winner not that long ago and a great talent; Remy, a Moto2 World Champion two years ago, and then the WorldSSP Champion and runner-up. 

"The riders that have exited have been replaced by prop🤪er, proper guys and that’s going to make the fight at the front stronger, but I don’t know which one of those guys is going to be there. 

"The year needs a few rounds to get momentum and understaꦆnd where everyone is. Hopefully I’ll be one of 💎them!"

Razgatlioglu ‘smiling’ after first WorldSBK test of 2023

The Pata Yamaha rider topped both days of action in ♈Jerez, with the second day seeing him get the better of Rea rather than Bautista.

Both times Razgatlioglu finished just under a tenth quicওker than his two main rivals, which came as no surprise to the Turkish sta꧟r.

"I’m not surജprised. I see the result and I’m just smiling because, last year, it was the same," added Razgatlioglu. 

"We were fighting 🍎altogether. Now I see again 𝓀I’m with Jonny and Alvaro and everybody is very close again. 

"It’s not easy to say because the season⛎ hasn’t started. Petrucci looks strong. Rinaldi also looks strong. 

"Now, it looksꦅ like everybody is very strong. Dominique, Gardner, everybody looks very strong. Locatelli,🥃 today, made a big improvement."