Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Jonathan Rea topped the timing sheets in both today’s World Superbike test sessions at Portimao in Portugal.
Heavy rain this morning meant most riders remained in their team garages, with Rea only venturing out for ten laps in the final half-hour of the session, going quickest on his final lap.
It was still wet at the beginning of this afternoon’s 2h20m session at the 4.592km Portuguese circuit but the track began to show signs of drying with 20 minutes remaining. Rea went out on intermediate tyres to set a series of fastest laps, eventually emerging three tenths faster than yesterday’s pace setter, Leon Haslam.
“We had completely different conditions today,” said a smiling Rea afterwards. “We ran with a prototype wet this morning, when conditions were bordering on dangerous. Then, on intermediates, we managed to go fastest again this afternoon and got to test some electronics as well. Today was a lot more positive than yesterday, really, and a lot less painful!”
Rea’s Hannspree Ten Kate team-mate, Max Neukirchner, rode his Honda CBR1000RR in the wet for the first time today and was ninth fastest this morning. The 26-year-old German got more accustomed to the bike’s performance in the rain as he continued the familiarisation process.
“I had a lot of fun riding the bike in the wet for the first time this morning,” enthused Neukirchner, “and I like the way it handles. It was a little more difficult this afternoon with wet and dry patches. But the forecast is for dry weather again tomorrow, so I’ll be looking to make some more steps forward.”
Carlos Checa faced rain and a wet track this morning for practice. Due to the heavy rain Shakey decided, together with his technicians, not to enter the circuit in the morning session. They preferred to spend more time working on a dry setting. Checa finished thirteen laps with a best lap time of 1,55,922. Better conditions and occasional sunshine for the afternoon session, but the track was still wet, which inevitably prevented the riders from lapping at very high speeds. Shakey and Carlos continued to test various suspension settings with positive results. Checa finished twenty one laps registering the tenth fastest time of the day. Byrne finished only nine laps ending his test in seventeenth place. Both riders feel that they are making good progress and would like to see an improvement in their performance, hoping for a drier day on track tomorrow.
1 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'49.107
2 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'49.391
3 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'49.606
4 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'50.168
5 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'50.616
6 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'51.167
7 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'51.170
8 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'51.253
9 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'52.108
10 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'53.854
11 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'54.008
12 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'54.816
13 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'54.829
14 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'55.094
15 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'55.478
16 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'57.001
17 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'57.963
18 12 Fores J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'58.409
19 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'58.896
20 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'59.721
| Friday, 22 January 2010 |
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1 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'43.023
2 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'43.158
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'43.364
4 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'43.530
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'43.628
6 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'43.885
7 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'44.028
8 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'44.339
9 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'44.610
10 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'44.630
11 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'44.756
12 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'44.972
13 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'45.034
14 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'45.142
15 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.144
16 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.866
17 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'45.957
18 12 Fores J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'48.616
19 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'48.848
20 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'49.009