Reigning World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa continued his strong form in the first day of the final preseason test at Phillip Island. The only rider into the 1:31 range, Checa managed to keep his times consistent as the higher temperatures kept the WSBK field from improving upon the times set during the unofficial tests at the same circuit last week. Aprilia’s Max Biaggi and BMW’s Marco Melandri did manage to improve their times from last week’s test, turning the second and third quickest times for the day respectively. Castrol Honda’s Jonathan Rea also made significant progress from last week, setting the fourth quickest time in a tight grouping that saw second through 10th place all within the same second.
BMW’s Leon Haslam carded the fifth quickest lap with a 1:32.397, but his day ended with a high-speed highside crash in the final turn that resulted in a fractured right tibia in his leg that makes him questionable for this weekend’s opening race of the season. Haslam is hoping to have the bone screwed together and be fit enough to race. The higher temperatures in the afternoon also seemed to keep Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes from repeating his stellar form from last week’s test, as the British rider couldn’t improve upon the 1:32.465 time he set in the morning session.
The WSBK ranks continue testing tomorrow before the opening race of the 2012 season begins on Friday.
Official InFront WSBK test Phillip Island Day 1:
1. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati 1:31.947
2. Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia 1:32.132
3. Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW 1:32.232
4. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda 1:32.379
5. Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW 1:32.397
6. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki 1:32.465
7. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati 1:32.768
8. Nicola Canepa (ITA) Ducati 1:32.836
9. Jakub Smrz (CZE) Ducati 1:32.848
10. Joan Lascorz (SPA) Kawasaki 1:33.005
11. Leon Camier (GBR) Suzuki 1:33.104
12. Michel Fabrizio (ITA) BMW 1:33.141
13. Maxime Berger (FRA) Ducati 1:33.246
14. Davide Giugliano (ITA) Ducati 1:33.366
15. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda 1:33.479
16. Lorenzo Zanetti (ITA) Ducati 1:33.566
17. Bryan Staring (AUS) Kawasaki 1:33.704
18. David Salom (SPA) Kawasaki 1:33.812
19. Ayrton Badovini (ITA) BMW 1:34.234
20. Chaz Davies (GBR) Aprilia 1:34.303
21. Rafael De Rosa (ITA) Honda 1:34.400
22. Josh Brookes (AUS) Suzuki 1:34.667
23. Mark Aitchison (AUS) BMW 1:35.223