From a press release issued by FGSport:

SBK TEAMS GATHER FOR FINAL PRE-SEASON TEST

With the first round of the World Superbike Championship taking place at Valencia on Sunday 29 February, the top SBK entrants arrived in the Spanish circuit of Valencia eager to shine during the last official tests before the start of the 17th SBK season.

Bright and unbroken sunshine, with air and track temperatures of 23°C, offered the 24 Superbike machines on show the ideal start to their final preparations, and once more Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) made the most of it, setting the fastest first day time of 1:36.608. The Frenchman was suffering the effects of a slight flu and had a crash in the middle of the afternoon session, but he fully expects to increase his advantage on day two of the three-day test.

For new SBK full-time rider Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati 999RS) the first day of testing was a measurable success, his 50-lap total eventually leading to a second quickest time of 1:36.748. The Englishman’s pace was a boost for the Renegade team, setting out on its first year of full World Superbike competition.

A good day for most of the UK entry had James Toseland in third overall on his factory Ducati Fila machine, while local knowledge allowed Spaniard Sergio Fuertes the chance to secure fourth overall on his MIR Racing Suzuki.

A good start to a new SBK adventure for the Ten Kate Honda team saw Chris Vermeulen, the reigning World Supersport champion, finish his first true day of Superbike testing in fifth place, an excellent result for him and the all-new Honda Fireblade.

Multiple SBK race winner Noriyuki Haga returns to the championship which made him an international star, with the Japanese ending his first day at Valencia sixth on his Renegade Ducati 999R. Steve Martin (DFX Ducati 999RS) went seventh quickest, with top Foggy Petronas rider Troy Corser eighth overall.

The top ten was rounded out by the most experienced Superbiker of all, Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 999RS) and Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati 999RS).

Gary McCoy completed his first day of real tests among his peer group in 13th place overall, behind the best Kawasaki ZX-10 rider, Mauro Sanchini in 11th and Chris Walker (Foggy Petronas FP-1) in 12th.

More new entrants to the series, Zongshen Suzuki, fielded their two riders Piergiorgio Bontempi and Warwick Nowland with Bontempi 17th fastest and Nowland 20th.

In World Supersport the circuit best lap was beaten on the very first day by Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), who set a new best of 1:37.655 while running on race tyres. In a superb first day for Australian riders Broc Parkes (also Ten Kate Honda) scored second quickest time, while returnee WSS rider Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany YZFR6) was third fastest, 0.6 seconds shy of Muggeridge.

2002 World Champion Fabien Foret (Yamaha Belgarda YZFR6) pushed into the top four, while the top Suzuki rider, Stephane Chambon, slotted the new GSX-R600 into fifth.

Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Fila 749RS) went 14th fastest of the 27 Supersport riders on show, and easily the top Ducati rider.

Testing continues for two further days, with good weather conditions predicted by most long-range forecasts.



More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Italia:

FABIEN FOURTH ON OPENING DAY
Team Yamaha Motor Italia rider Fabien Foret ended the first day of the official Valencia tests with the fourth fastest time, without getting anywhere near the limit. The Frenchman continued his understanding of the 2004 Yamaha YZF-R6 and is happy at the progress he and the team are making.

He had to do all the work himself today as his team mate Jurgen van den Goorbergh is sitting out these tests so that he can be fully fit for the race at the end of the month. His left wrist is a little sore from the crash he suffered just over a week ago and he and the team decided that he would better off giving his injuries time to heal properly. The fastest time of the day was set by Aussie Karl Muggeridge (Honda) who posted a time of 1:37.655 in the morning session.

FABIEN FORET – 4th, 1:39.078
“I didn’t have such a good feeling with my bike today and so I didn’t want to push too hard and maybe crash. I made 54 laps today and I’m pretty happy about how it went. We need to work more on the bike’s set-up and once I am confident, I can push much harder. I’m not worried because it is only my fifth day on this bike and I’m learning more about it every time I go out. At the moment it is easy to lose the way a little, so we are concentrating on getting a good set-up first. Tomorrow will be better for sure.”

BAIOCCO CONTINUES HIS GOOD WORK
Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni rider Matteo Baiocco was the fastest Yamaha rider at the last tests one week ago and ended today with the seventh quickest time and was the only rider in the top ten to improve his time in the afternoon session. The 19-year old, former European Champion, has really got to grips with his Lorenzini by Leoni YZF-R6 and has surprised everybody with his performance last week and is definitely one to watch this season.

Day 1 results
1 Muggeridge (Honda) 1:37.655, 2 Parkes (Honda) 1:38.218, 3 Curtain (Yamaha) 1:38.333, 4 FABIEN FORET (TEAM YAMAHA MOTOR ITALIA) 1:389.078, 5 Chambon (Suzuki) 1:39.168, 6 Kellner (Yamaha) 1:39.283, 7 MATTEO BAIOCCO (Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) 1:39.298