Motul FIM Superbike World Championship
Phillip Island GP Circuit
Victoria, Australia
February 22, 2016
Day One Test Lap Times (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Tom Sykes, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:31.097
2. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:31.293
3. Jordi Torres, Spain (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.526
4. Nicky Hayden, USA (Hon CBR1000RR SP), 1:31.558
5. Sylvain Guintoli, France (Yam YZF-R1), 1:31.583
6. Alex Lowes, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:31.620
7. Xavi Fores, Spain (Duc Panigale R), 1:31.661
8. Chaz Davies, UK (Duc Panigale R), 1:31.678, crash
9. Michael van der Mark, Netherlands (Hon CBR1000RR SP), 1:31.763
10. Davide Giugliano, Italy (Duc Panigale R), 1:31.810
11. Markus Reiterberger, Germany (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.928
12. Roman Ramos, Spain (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.500
13. Leon Camier, UK (MV Agusta F4 RR), 1:32.707
14. Josh Brookes, Australia (BMW S1000RR), 1:32.859, crash
15. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), 1:32.892
16. Mike Jones, Australia (Duc Panigale R), 1:33.051
17. Sylvain Barrier, France (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:33.147
18. Fabio Menghi, Italy (Duc Panigale R), 1:33.251
19. Josh Hook, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:33.792
20. Alex De Angelis, San Marino (Apr RSV4 RF), 1:35.161
21. Dominic Schmitter, Switzerland (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:35.640, crash
22. Saeed Al Sulaiti, Qatar (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:36.121
23. Imre Toth, Hungary (Yam YZF-R1), 1:36.463
24. Peter Sebestyen, Hungary (Yam YZF-R1), 1:37.927, crash
25. Karel Abraham, Czech Republic (BMW S1000RR), no time recorded
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
WorldSBK: Sykes Reigns Down Under
2013 World Champion leads timesheets on first day, ahead of teammate Rea
Kawasaki Racing Team ended the first day of testing in Phillip Island 1-2 on the timesheets with 2013 WorldSBK Champion Tom Sykes beating reigning Champion Jonathan Rea to the top spot by 0.196 seconds. It was a day marred by drizzle and interruptions that saw Honda rider Michael Van Der Mark come home third fastest ahead of fellow ex-rookie Jordi Torres on his BMW, with MotoGP Legend Nicky Hayden completing the top 5 ahead of Yamaha duo Guintoli and Lowes on their new YZF R1. The three Ducatis of Fores, Davies and Giugliano rounded out the top ten.
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Light rain hampers Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team’s last pre-season tests in Phillip Island
With a few days to go before the World Superbike 2016 season opener, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team took it to the track once again in Phillip Island (Australia) for the traditional, two-day test together with all the other teams and riders. Despite the warm temperatures, light rains hindered the team’s program, focused on consistency and competitiveness over the race distance in light of the latest upgrades to the engine, chassis and electronics of the Panigale R, which had already received a positive feedback in Portimão and Jerez last January.
With the top riders separated only by a small margin, Chaz Davies (who crashed out without injuries in the final minutes) and Davide Giugliano closed in ninth and tenth position, respectively 0.581 and 0.713 seconds behind leader Tom Sykes, who posted a best lap of 1:31.097. The team will carry on with its program tomorrow, the second and final day of testing ahead of the first official practice sessions scheduled for Friday.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 1’31.678 (9th)
“We followed a specific program, working on competitiveness over 20 laps and keeping the race weekend in mind. With the team, we only made a few, small changes to the chassis and electronics, and I was quite happy before the crash. I was trying a new compound, but I couldn’t find the same feeling. Maybe I needed a bit more time with it, but unfortunately I crashed out in the last corner. The good news is that I’m physically OK, so we’ll be able to move on with our program tomorrow.”
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #34) – 1’31.810 (10th)
“I’m working differently with my new team compared with the past, prioritizing consistency. Looking at the time sheets, I feel satisfied because I was able to consistently lap in the 1:31 mark. We still lack a bit of rear grip to improve our speed, but I feel I can repeat my times constantly and that gives me confidence. Tomorrow, if the weather improves, we’ll try a long-run to evaluate tyre wear.”