Rossi pips Schumacher in second Bathurst practice

Valentino Rossi has marked his Mount Panorama debut with the fastest time in Practice 2.

The seven-time MotoGP champion-turned Team WRT BMW driver ended the first Bronze session atop the time sheets.

Rossi, 43, clocked a 2:05.4486s to be just 0.0696s clear of closest rival Brad Schumacher.

The 40-minute session was punctuated by two red flags, both for incidents either side of the Cutting.

Keith Kassulke spun his #52 MARC entry early in the session and was forced to drive backwards.

Kassulke then completed a three-point turn, with the red flag flying to aid his recovery.

Late on, Marc Cini spun and crashed his #9 Hallmarc Audi exiting the Cutting.

Cini managed to return his damaged car to pit lane.

At the centre of it all was Rossi, who set a 2.05.8873s prior to the second stoppage to eventually lead proceedings.

Schumacher went top after the first stoppage with a 2:07.9846s, which was bettered Kenny Habul’s 2:06.9945s.

Habul then went quicker with consecutive times of a 2:06.5671s and 2:06.1350s.

Rossi fired in a 2:06.6928s before turning in his 2:05.8873s two laps later.

When the session resumed following the Cini crash, Schumacher vaulted his #55 Fuchs-backed Audi to P1 on a 2:05.5182s.

Bathurst local Schumacher — who is racing with James Golding and Frederic Vervisch — looked certain to prevent Rossi’s headline moment.

However, the superstar Italian turned up the wick on his final flyer to steal top spot back.

All told, Rossi’s 2:05.4486s was just 0.07s quicker than Schumacher, with 2022 winner Habul third.

Liam Talbot (#65 Audi) was the final driver within a second of Rossi’s time.

Talbot — whose co-driver Chaz Mostert topped the earlier Practice 1 — was 0.8045s off the pace.

Bronze drivers will return to the track for Practice 3 at 2:00pm local time.

Friday’s action will conclude with Practice 4 for all drivers at 4:10pm local time.