FIM Superbike World Championship Official Test Parkalgar Circuit Portimao, Portugal January 27, 2011 Best Lap Times (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires): 1. Jonathan REA, GBR (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:54.718 2. Marco MELANDRI, ITA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:55.063 3. Carlos CHECA, ESP (Ducati 1098R), 1:56.162 4. Sylvain GUINTOLI, FRA (Ducati 1098R), 1:56.505 5. Jakub SMRZ, CZE (Ducati 1098R), 1:56.902 6. Tom SYKES, GBR (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:57.213 7. Eugene LAVERTY, IRL (YZF-R1), 1:58.126 8. Noriyuki HAGA, JPN (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:58.410 9. Ayrton BADOVINI, ITA (BMW S1000RR), 1:58.711 10. Michel FABRIZIO, ITA (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:58.919 11. James TOSELAND, GBR (BMW S1000RR), 1:59.390 12. Maxime BERGER, FRA (Ducati 1098R), 1:59.472 More, from a press release issued by Infront Motor Sports: Top spot for Rea on day 2 at Portimao Portimao (Portugal), Thursday 27 January 2011 – Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) proved the most effective of the 12 riders who took to the track in a weather-affected afternoon session, taking advantage of slowly drying track conditions to record a 1’54.718. The best overall lap time of the tests so far still stands to Jakub Smrz (Effenbert Liberty Ducati) with a 1’43.503, set in dry conditions yesterday. The lap times were held back today by a track surface that was made slippery by several small drops of rain, which came and went as the day unfolded. “Today was a bit grim at the start so we sat out the first session hoping it would dry but it didn’t,” declared Rea. “We ended up taking to the track in the last hour and to my surprise we found our wet base setting very good as well. It was puddles wet and damp wet but a decent day anyway.” Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) went second quickest today, Carlos Checa was third for Althea Racing Ducati and Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert Liberty Ducati) slotted in fourth. Smrz was fifth, Tom Sykes sixth and proving to be the only Kawasaki Racing Team rider to take to the track, as Joan Lascorz did not want to risk the recovery of his left shoulder in such changeable track conditions. Eugene Laverty was only out in the morning session on his Yamaha World Superbike Team bike. Max Biaggi did not set any laps today, not riding in the morning rain and then heading to Monaco for an important PR appearance, before returning to action tomorrow. Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) did not ride as already he has three wet days of testing under his belt so far in his new role. Times (Wed-Thu): 1. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’43.503; 2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’43.676; 3. Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1’43.707; 4. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’43.770; 5. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1’43.789; 6. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’43.840; 7. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’43.879; 8. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’44.369; 9. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’44.446; 10. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’44.752; etc. More, from a press release issued by Supersonic Racing Team: Rain does not ruin the second day of testing for the Supersonic Team in Portimao. Rain during the second test day on the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. But Maxime Berger and the Supersonic team were not interrupted, the French Supersonic Team rider made the most number of laps: 43. A clear signal of Maxim Berger’s commitment and his strong desire to adapt quickly to the Ducati 1198 with the electronic parts provided by the team from Danilo Soncini. During the morning, Maxime performed 15 laps clocking a best time from 2’01 “201. In the afternoon, 28 laps and he managed to improve his best time: 1’59 “472. Tomorrow will be the third and final day of testing on the Portuguese track, crucial in the journey to the first race of the 2011 World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island in Australia. MAXIME BERGER: “Even today, the goal was to improve my feelings with the bike and team without taking unnecessary risks, and without seeking for a good lap time. I am grateful for having the experience in wet conditions and we worked on various wet settings. I’m the youngest rider in this 2011 SBK year and I have to work a lot and learn a lot. I thank the team and Danilo, they allow me to work without pressure and this is helping me a lot. Today I learned how to work with my team taking advantage of the telemetry data. Also I’m getting used to the “ride by wire”. And it was important to try all on a wet track, but tomorrow I’d rather find a dry track and a little sun.” DANILO SONCINI: “Maxime Berger was not used to make so many laps on a wet track and being half equipped with electronic controls like on our Ducati 1198. Today Maxime has worked extensively with the team and understood the working method of our technicians very well. He learned to take advantage of telemetry and provided to the team all the information needed to improve his bike. He preferred not to take risks and this has never sought the lap times. In the afternoon he used the “ride by wire” system. The two test sessions were positive, thanks to Maxime and our entire team.”