From a press release:

EDWARDS FIRES NEW SP-2 TO HEAD OF LEADERBOARD

Castrol Honda¹s Colin Edwards recorded his fastest ever lap around the Valencia circuit in Spain on the opening day of a three-day World Superbike test session on Saturday.

Edwards topped the leaderboard and was one second inside the lap record at the Spanish track, the first visit for Edwards aboard the new-for-2002
Castrol SP-2 machine.

“The machine constantly improved all day today and by late afternoon I knew a good time was possible,” said the Texan who celebrates his 28th birthday next week. “I’ve gone a full second faster than I went here last year and we’ve still got two days to go.”

Noriyuki Haga, returning to World Superbike on an Aprilia, was second fastest with defending world champion Troy Bayliss third. Bayliss’s teammate, Spaniard Ruben Xaus took fourth place with the third of the factory Ducatis fifth, in the hands of Ben Bostrom.

Mark Heckles, riding the HRC kit Castrol Honda Rumi machine, completed a handful of laps for photography purposes, recording the 20th best time.

Heckles commented: “The SP-2 kit machine feels very good, a lot better than I expected. We weren’t quite ready for this test so we just came today to honour some other duties but the chance to get a few laps was a bonus. We’ll be in good shape for the first round here in two weeks time.”

Saturday World Superbike test times:
1 Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda) 1:35.168
2 Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Aprilia) 1:35.460
3 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati) 1:35.495
4 Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati) 1:35.648
5 Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 1:35.650
6 Steve Martin, Australia (Ducati) 1:36.127
7 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Ducati) 1:36.128
8 Lucio Pedercini, Italy (Ducati) 1:36.223
9 Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Suzuki) 1:36.423
10 Hitoyasu Izutsu, Japan (Kawasaki) 1:36.547


From another press release:

Issued: Sunday February 24 2002

BAYLISS TOPS TIMES AT VALENCIA

Reigning world champion Troy Bayliss moved to the head of the leaderboard on Sunday evening after the second day of the three-day World Superbike championship tests at the Valencia circuit in Spain.

Bayliss edged out Castrol Honda¹s Colin Edwards from the top spot as Aprilia¹s Noriyuki Haga moved into second place.

Edwards stands third fastest with Monday¹s final action expected to see many of the title contenders end the final pre-season test of the year with their fastest laps.

Edwards said: “We did a race distance today on a potential rear race tyre from Michelin and it couldn’t have gone much better. The consistent lap times give us a lot of hope and expectation for the races here in two weeks.”

The 1000cc SP-2 rider continued: “I haven’t tried a Superpole qualifying tyre yet, that’ll come tomorrow and I know I can improve on my best lap.
When everyone gets going at the end of the final session tomorrow there will definitely be some fireworks!”

Ben Bostrom improved on his Saturday time and holds fourth place overall with his Ducati team-mate Ruben Xaus fifth despite crashing out of the morning’s opening session, escaping injury.

Pier-Francesco Chili, riding for the NCR Ducati team, improved to sixth place with Australian Steve Martin seventh.


Combined times after Sunday’s sessions:
1 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati)
1:34.922
2 Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Aprilia) 1:34.957
3 Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda) 1:35.168
4 Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 1:35.260
5 Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati) 1:35.327
6 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Ducati) 1:35.668
7 Steve Martin, Australia (Ducati) 1:35.962
8 Lucio Pedercini, Italy (Ducati) 1:35.962
9 Hitoyasu Izutsu, Japan (Kawasaki) 1:36.032
10 James Toseland, GB (Ducati) 1:36.305