Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) stayed on the top slot by just a fraction as the World Supersport runners completed their four testing sessions at Phillip Island. The Frenchman was put under pressure throughout by an impressive Broc Parkes on the Kawasaki Motocard.com machine. David Salom on the second Kawasaki was a further two-tenths behind but held on to the place from youngster Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who set one really quick lap but continues to look for repeatable race pace in his rookie season. Britain’s Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) was next up, recovering pace and confidence after a big crash on day one, followed by Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Bike Service) in sixth. Luca Scassa was the first Yamaha ParkinGO man in the timesheets, in seventh with Chaz Davies a further five places down. Gino Rea (Step Racing Honda) was eighth, while Danilo Dell’Omo was the first Triumph in the timesheets in tenth, putting all four competing manufacturers inside the top ten. James Ellison rode again today despite his high-speed fall on day one and the Englishman will go in for an operation on his left knee tomorrow, to allow him to race on Sunday. Aussie rider Mitchell Pirotta (Kuja Honda) scored a 23rd best time for his home race. Combined times: 1. Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’33.904; 2.Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’33.918; 3. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’34.183; 4. Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.726; 5. Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.019; 6 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.249; 7. Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.272; 8. Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.381; etc. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Yamaha ParkinGO Team Complete Second World Supersport Test Yamaha ParkinGO riders Luca Scassa and Chas Davies wrapped up the World Superpsort test at Phillip Island today, completing a valuable two days of familiarization with the 2009 championship winning Yamaha R6 Supersport bike. This is only the second opportunity the team and riders have had to spend time with the machines due to the late coming together of Yamaha and ParkinGo. The team changed suspension partners between tests so this was their first time riding with the new set up. Both riders spent the two days chasing down a set up for the upcoming World Supersport opening round this weekend. Davies testing today was interrupted by a high speed crash after a change of tyres, the young British rider walking away uninjured after coming off on a fast right hand corner, crashing at nearly 220km’hr. Luca Scassa finished the test sitting seventh fastest in the standings with a time of 1’35.272, team mate Chas Davies was in 11th with a time of 1’35.819. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Parkes And Salom All Ready After Successful PI Test Sessions The new Supersport World Championship season gets underway for Broc Parkes and David Salom at Phillip Island on Sunday and each rider is filled with confidence after the recent IMS test sessions. Broc was only 0.014 seconds from equalling Fabien Foret’s fastest time of the tests in Australia, with Salom also very close behind and third in the rankings. The tests concluded in good weather and with more of the same conditions predicted for race weekend, all in the official Kawasaki WSS team can look to the first race in the 12-round Championship with great confidence. For Parkes, who raced for the Provec Motocard.com team at the tail end of last year, starting the season at his home round is an exciting prospect, especially after setting good consistent race pace to go with a personal best time that pushed him to second in the rankings. Salom, new to the team for 2011, was very impressive in testing, taking his time to build up pace and ending up in confident mood for the opening race of the year on Sunday February 27th. The Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki team also fielded Vittorio Iannuzzo and Massimo Roccoli at the tests, as they will do in the race on Sunday. Roccoli was 13th of 26 riders at the test; Iannuzzo 19th after only setting laps in the final session of the two days. Broc Parkes: “I am happy to have had another couple of days to test because in Almeria it was a bit cold, and it rained in Portugal. So here we did a lot of kilometres on used tyres today to get to a good race set-up. We found some positive directions and the bike felt really good, so we stuck in a new tyre and went for a fast lap. I am not sure if the grip this afternoon was as high as this morning but maybe at the end, when I did my lap, it was OK. I am ready for the weekend and we are just going to analyse some data now. We should start the race weekend with basic set-up that we finished the tests with. We worked well with the new ‘big’ tyres. We did about 20 laps on one set and they were pretty consistent. I think even last year the bike was as good as anything, and this year it is a little better again.” David Salom: “I am taking things gradually to understand each step we are making, and I am surprised a little that we have been able to go so fast and stay so near the top. I made a mistake and had a small fall in the tests, but no problem. I have to work hard and we have been pushing on the limit, but obviously it is working because our lap times are good. I am in a good team and on a good bike so I have to say I am happy to face the new season.” More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s two French riders, Fabien Foret and Florian Marino, have both set impressively fast times during an official two-day World Supersport test at Phillip Island which concluded this afternoon. Foret, who returns to the Ten Kate fold for the first time since winning the World Supersport championship with the team in 2002, set the fastest overall time of the test, with his young team-mate, Marino, running fourth quickest. Foret’s best lap of 1m33.904s was less than 0.1s off the fastest ever World Supersport lap at Phillip Island. It is the 17-year-old Marino’s first visit to the fast 4.5km circuit which lies 150km south of Melbourne, and he has continued to improve his lap times following a private two-day test at the circuit last week. Phillip Island will host this weekend’s opening round of the World Supersport championship, with the Ten Kate team aiming for its ninth title in 10 years. Fabien Foret best lap 1m33.904s I felt a bit tired this afternoon mentally more than physically, as I was trying to give good information to the team. The two tests here have been very positive, not just because of the quickest lap but because the race pace is quite good, too. And, most important for me, I have a good feeling on the bike and I’m having fun. I think we are working very well together and we’re are quite close to being ready for the race. We’ll adjust a few things if conditions change, but it’s nice for everybody to be able to prepare like this. Florian Marino best lap 1m34.726s I like this track very much I’ve learned it quite fast and everything was good at the test last week, except I had a fast, fifth gear crash and hurt my shoulder a bit. We changed a few things to start this second test but I couldn’ ;t get the right feeling so we decided to make two different settings and found something I liked this morning. I went half a second faster without pushing too much and then followed Fabien with a new tyre and was able to do a quick lap, again without pushing so hard. I found it hard to get into a rhythm by myself and go any faster, so there is still some work for me to do at the weekend. Ronald ten Kate team manager It’s been a really good test with both boys up at the front. Florian has been quite impressive in his first visit to the island. Of course, he’s getting some tricks and tips from Fabien, but a young man like him has to learn to master the bike himself around here and he’s doing that very well. We mustn’t forget to take it step-by-step with him but it’s developing well and he’s giving good feedback to the team. Fabien has been flying ever since he put his leg back o ver the Honda and I’ve only seen him with big smiles on his face. On long runs, he’s been fast as in faster than last year’s race and he can put in the quick laps, too. We’ve ticked a lot of boxes and hope to be ready for the weekend when we still have a bit of work to do to improve things more, but team and riders are prepared to do the job. More, from a press release issued by Bogdanka PTR Honda: BOGDANKA PTR HONDA racer James Ellison will have key-hole surgery on his left knee tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to restore movement and strength in time for this weekend’s opening round of the World Supersport Championship at Phillip Island in Australia. A crash during the opening session meant that Ellison missed the afternoon run on day one but was back in action on Tuesday. The key-hole surgery is no-risk and will manage the pain so he can concentrate on racing. Despite losing track time he finished the test in 12th place. Bogdanka PTR Honda racer Pawel Szkopek concentrated on fast race simulations and was impressive over race distance. He finished 16th overall less than a second from the top eight. James Ellison: “It was a good test because I was fastest in the wet and then very consistent in the dry on the second day so I’m looking forward to a good race on Sunday. Unfortunately I crashed on the first day and damaged a tendon in my left knee. It was a bit difficult to move around on the bike so I will have a quick key-hole surgery tomorrow morning to allow more movement and less pain. I might not be at full fitness on Sunday but will be fit enough to have a good race and will do my best.” Pawel Szkopek: “I’m very happy with the test because I was not only able to improve on my previous personal record at Phillip Island but also to keep a consistent pace on the long runs, so I’m really looking forward to the race weekend. I think I can still improve during practice and qualifying and hope to be fighting for a point scoring position on Sunday.” Simon Buckmaster: “Overall, apart from the crash, it was a positive test. The surgery will be a zero risk procedure from our point of view, because it gives James a chance to challenge right up the front on Sunday. It’s positive we can have it done as early as tomorrow morning and we’re looking forward to a good result in the race. Pawel worked hard and concentrated on the long runs and was very consistent so he’s looking good for a point scoring position.” Combined test times Mon/Tues 1 99 Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’33.904 2 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’33.918 3 44 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’34.183 4 21 Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.726 5 11 Lowes S. (GBR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1’35.019 6 22 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.249 7 9 Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.272 8 4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.381 9 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.435 10 91 Dell’Omo D. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’35.697 12 77 Ellison J. (GBR) BOGDANKA PTR HONDA CBR600RR 1’35.964 16 28 Szkopek P. (POL) BOGDANKA PTR HONDA CBR600RR 1’36.314