Camier and FIXI Crescent Suzuki quickest on first day of ‘Official Test’ FIXI Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier continued his good run of form in the pre-season tests by topping the timesheets on the first day of the Official eni FIM Superbike World Championship test at Phillip Island. Camier made consistent progression this afternoon around the 4,445m Australian circuit, before setting a fastest time of 1’31.243, over half-of-a-second quicker than Max Biaggi’s lap record. Camier completed 44-laps in the sweltering Phillip Island heat as air temperatures reached 35°C during the afternoon session. Camier had used this morning as a shakedown test to assess his newly built Suzuki GSX-R after the huge crash in last week’s tests and, following a few adjustments by his crew during the lunch period, he put the Yoshimura-powered machine to good use to storm his way to the top of the charts. Jules Cluzel made steady steps forward as he utilised today’s sessions to work his way back to confidence following his operation for the injury he sustained in last week’s test. Cluzel worked thoroughly and methodically as he completed 62-laps throughout the day. He gradually improved his time and made consistent runs as he continued his steep learning curve on the FIXI Crescent Suzuki Superbike. Cluzel finished the day in 14th position with a best time of 1’32.817, just a second-and-a-half away from his team-mate. FIXI Crescent Suzuki has one more day of pre-season testing tomorrow as it makes its final preparations in readiness for the first races of the season this Sunday. Leon Camier: “We needed to change some stuff after the bike had been re-built, so this morning was there no big hurry to push from the start. We changed the bike a bit in the lunch-break, because unfortunately it didn’t quite feel the same as it did before I smashed it up last week! The feeling came back and we also had to change quite a bit because of the heat, I did the same lap-time in the cooler conditions last week as I did in the heat today, so I think we did a pretty good job. It’s very close at the top, so it doesn’t really count for anything, because the race will be difficult and the other guys have got some time to perfect what they’ve got. We are in quite good shape at the moment, but we know there is still a lot to do for the rest of this week.” Jules Cluzel: “I am happy with the test today, because I did a lot of laps and improved a little bit every time I went out. They weren’t big steps, because big steps with a Superbike are very dangerous – as I managed to find out at the test last Thursday! We tried many things today and didn’t really push for a fast lap time, but tried to work in the best way and find the setting that is good for me. Tomorrow we have another test and I will try to continue to improve and then see what will happen from there.” Paul Denning – Team Manager: “It’s been a very successful day’s work, especially if we consider that at the end of the unofficial test, Jules was in hospital and Leon’s bike was in the trees outside turn 12! We had a few technical issues with Leon’s newly built bike this morning, but the crew worked methodically through those and Leon was able to use that to his advantage this afternoon. He matched his time from the unofficial tests, but in much hotter conditions and coming back from the huge crash, so it great to see his confidence build step-by-step and at the end of the day show his true potential. “Jules did a great job today, because things were looking very difficult after the first day of last week’s test! Making a lot of laps, regaining some feeling and confidence and understanding the effects of the changes that crew were making, means he has ended up with a good base to take forward. His repaired arm isn’t causing him any problems on the track and we now have something solid to work with tomorrow as we approach the first round of the championship.” Phillip Island – Official Test Classification: 1. LEON CAMIER (FIXI CRESCENT SUZUKI) 1’31.243: 2. Leon Haslam(Honda) 1’31.396: 3. Michel Fabrizio(Aprilia) 1’31.401: 4. Eugene Laverty(Aprilia) 1’31.452: 5. Marco Melandri (BMW) 1’31.485: 14. JULES CLUZEL (FIXI CRESCENT SUZUKI)1’32.817: More, from a press release issued by Althea Racing: Positive results for Althea Racing team in the first day of testing at Phillip Island The Althea Racing team is continuing its progress in the first round of the World Superbike Championship, to be held at Phillip Island in Australia, the track where today Davide Giugliano finished the first of two days of testing where all the riders of the 2013 World Superbike were on track. A sunny day and high temperatures have characterized this first day. In the morning Davide Giugliano covered 26 laps and got the third fastest time in 1’31 “924. A great performance made even more important by the fact that Davide has recorded his best time with worn tires. In the afternoon, the outside temperature further increased, making the task difficult both for technicians and the Althea Team rider. At the end of the second session Giugliano got the seventh place overall with a time of 1’31 “701, improving by two tenths his preceding time. Tomorrow the Althea Racing team will continue working on the set-up of Giugliano’s Aprilia RSV4 with the intention of improving the lap time, but especially to prepare the bike for the races of Sunday. Davide Giugliano : “If we stop and think that this is just one of the first tests we have done with the RSV4, the result can only be positive, because we are only a few tenths of a second from an official Aprilia rider who uses this bike for quite some time. But I know my potential, that of my team and that of my bike so I am not fully satisfied with what we did today as we could have done better. Initially, I found it hard to adapt with these tires, but then my team prepared at best my Aprilia and I got my best time; both this morning and afternoon with worn tires. We must continue on this route and continue to work to the best of our abilities because there are still many days to the race and I am sure we can improve.” The results of the first day of practice :1 ) Camier (Suzuki) – 2) Haslam (Honda) – 3) Fabrizio (Aprilia) – 4) Laverty (Aprilia) – 5) Melandri (BMW) – 6) Checa (Ducati) – 7) Giugliano (Aprilia) – 8) Guintoli (Aprilia) – 9) Rea (Honda) More, from a press release issued by World Superbike Press Office: Leon Camier keeps record pace in official testing Day 1 Phillip Island (Australia), Monday 18 February 2013 – The eni FIM Superbike World Championship riders have taken the Phillip Island GP Circuit by storm as the first of two official testing days went on today. Leon Camier proved again to be the man on the move by setting Day 1 best lap time of 1’31.243. The FIXI Crescent Suzuki rider was followed closely by new Pata Honda World Superbike rider Leon Haslam and Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia). Leon Camier: “We needed to change some stuff after the bike had been re-built, so this morning was there no big hurry to push from the start. We changed the bike a bit in the lunch-break, because unfortunately it didn’t quite feel the same as it did before I smashed it up last week! The feeling came back and we also had to change quite a bit because of the heat, I did the same lap-time in the cooler conditions last week as I did in the heat today, so I think we did a pretty good job. It’s very close at the top, so it doesn’t really count for anything, because the race will be difficult and the other guys have got some time to perfect what they’ve got. We are in quite good shape at the moment, but we know there is still a lot to do for the rest of this week.” The ultra-smooth new track surface allowed the top-7 riders to get under the circuit lap record. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) ended up 4th ahead of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK), Carlos Checa (Team Alstare Ducati) and team mate Sylvain Guintoli. The 2011 World Superbike Champion is back after being treated for a blocked intestine that ruled him out of last week’s two-day private test. Checa finished 6th in front of former team mate Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia). It’s been an unfortunate day for new Aprilia Racing Team signing Sylvain Guintoli, who high-sided out of turn 12 in the morning and completed only 10 laps in the afternoon, following a technical problem on his RSV4 1000 Factory. Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) and Tom Sykes complete the top-ten, and the Kawasaki Racing Team was not 100% yet after injuring his left hand last Thursday, during the second day of private tests at Phillip Island. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing Ducati) was transferred to Dandenong Hospital following a heavy crash at the last turn during the morning session. Ayrton Badovini (Team Alstare Ducati) did not enter the track today as a precaution after last week’s crash.` Times: 1. Camier (Suzuki) 1’31.243 average 175.378 kph; 2. Haslam (Honda) 1’31.396; 3. Fabrizio (Aprilia) 1’31.401; 4. Laverty (Aprilia) 1’31.452; 5. Melandri (BMW) 1’31.485; 6. Checa (Ducati) 1’31.523; 7. Giugliano (Aprilia) 1’31.701; 8. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’31.966; 9. Rea (Honda) 1’31.980; 10. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’32.061;11. Davies (BMW) 1’32.077; 12. Stauffer (Honda) 1’32.231; 13. Clementi (BMW) 1’32.789; 14. Cluzel (Suzuki) 1’32.817; 15. Iannuzzo (BMW) 1’33.162; 16. Neukirchner (Ducati) 1’33.541; 17. Baz (Kawasaki) 1’33.628; 18. Allerton (BMW) 1’34.009; 19. Sandi (Kawasaki) 1’34.094; 20. Lundh (Kawasaki) 1’34.612. World Supersport – Lowes quickest in WSS official test Day 1 The first day of official testing got underway today at Phillip Island and saw Yakhnich Motorsport rider Sam Lowes top the timesheets for the Supersport class, ahead of reigning champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki). Despite a late start in the afternoon session, Lowes got quickly up to speed, eventually setting a 1’33.950 lap time resulting in him being the only rider to get into the 1’33 lap time bracket. Temperatures rose dramatically in the afternoon session – up to a 60° C on track and 35° C in the air – giving hard time to all Supersport riders. Third placed Vladimir Leonov fell down at turn 9 due to some oil on track and he was followed straight away by Mathew Scholtz (Suriano Racing Team Suzuki). The young South African was quickly taken to Medical Centre to undergo checks that found no injuries. Red flag came out and the session was stopped – and ultimately ended – for track cleaning. Rookie Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) showed once again to be ready and steady for his debut World Supersport season by being consistently in the top positions. The current European Superstock 600 Champion finished the second part in fifth position ahead of veteran Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Mahi Racing Team India) and Australian wildcard Josh Hook (Team Honda Racing). Massimo Roccoli (Team Pata by Martini Yamaha) and Fabio Menghi (VFT Racing Yamaha) were 8th and 9th, followed by 2011 runner up David Salom (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) and ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse duo of Roberto Rolfo and Christian Iddon. Times: 1. Lowes (Yamaha) 1’33.950 average 170.325 kph; 2. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1’34.155; 3. Leonov (Yamaha) 1’34.307; 4. Talmacsi (Honda) 1’34.436; 5. Vd Mark (Honda) 1’34.642; 6. Foret (Kawasaki) 1’34.764; 7. Hook (Honda) 1’34.832; 8. Roccoli (Yamaha) 1’35.056; 9. Rolfo (MV Agusta) 1’35.213; 10. Salom (Kawasaki); etc.