The third-year WorldSBK rider⛄, as was the case in Misano, battled throughout the day for top spot in what 𝕴was a renewed tussle with Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista. 

After leading at the midway point, Gerloff looked on course to claim overall honours before late efforts from Bautista and six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Reaꦐ were enough to overhaul the Texan rider. 

Nevertheless, it was a ‘super positiv🥃e’ day for the American despite a lack of grip that shocked the ex-MotoAmerica man. 

Gerloff added: "Yeah it was really good, really happy! Was rea🐓lly happy with all the changes we made in Misano and I can’t believe that they work here too. That’s super positive. 

"When we first started I was pretty shocked at how little grip we had, but it seems like it caꦉme better thro꧅ughout the day. 

"The Yamaha R1 w༒as working the whole t𓃲ime. I’ve got a smile on my face."

Like fellow Yamaha rider and current world champi🔜on Toprak Razgatlioglu, Gerloff has spent a considerable amount of time evaluating the Japanese manufacturer’s new electronics package during pre-season testing. 

And while this was again something he and the team focused on during the opening day in Barcel♔ona, confirming the overall improvements from Misano was the 'biggest' aim.  

"For sure, every track we go to is a big electronics test, but the biggest thing we’re doing is confirming the stuff we like in Misano on a track with less grip," said Gerloff.&n🦩bsp;

"I💮t will probably be similar at all the other tracks in the summer wh🦩en it gets hotter. 

"Tജhe race pace was really good. We got around ten laps done and it felt good the whole time, it felt consisteℱnt. 

"Tyr🌱es dropped off a little bit but that’s the way 🅘I like it. That’s when it starts working for me."