SBK Phillip Island Private Test 2013 - Day 1
After crashing at turn 11, the 27-year-old was sent to a Melbourne hospital for a scan, which confirmed a hairline fracture of the left wrist. Sykes will rest before returning to Philip Island on February 18 for the start of the official FIM World Superbike Championship two-day pre-season test.
With most of the leading factory and privateer Superbike teams in attendance for the private test session, it was a good measure of where the respective riders and teams are at ahead of the first round of the 2013 championship at Phillip Island on February 22 - 24.
Behind Laverty's top lap time of 1m31.7 on the freshly resurfaced track, it was a battle of the Brits, with Leon Camier (Crescent FIXI Suzuki) next fastest with a 1m31.9, followed by Jonathan Rea (PATA Honda - 1m32.0) and Leon Haslam (PATA Honda 1m32.0).
World No. 3 Marco Melandri (BMW, 1:32.2) was fifth fastest, ahead of new Aprilia signing Sylvain Guintoli (1:32.3) and Suzuki rookie Jules Cluzel (1:32.7), while Davide Giugliano (1:32.7) was the fastest non-factory rider on his Aprilia.
Ayrton Badovini continued development of the Alstare Ducati squad's all-new Panigale 1199R race bike, setting a respectable ninth fastest time of 1:32.8. Badovini's team mate, Carlos Checa, didn't take part in the test due to a stomach ailment. He is currently undergoing tests for a possible intestinal blockage.
Track chief Fergus Cameron said the new surface had plenty of grip and he was intrigued watching the riders acclimatise to the new conditions.
"With the added grip, they are carrying so much speed into the corners and taking totally different lines -- in some cases even running over the apex kerbs into the turn," Cameron said.
"It's interesting to see where they are staying on, and conversely coming off. Notoriously turn eight was tricky, but now they have got so much grip there the riders are nearly taking a straight line through the corner
While last year's World Superbike champion, Max Biaggi, will no longer be a part of the on-track action this year following his retirement, the veteran Italian will still be involved in the series, as a commentator for Italian television coverage of the championship.
PRIVATE WSBK TETS DAY ONE TIMES (courtesy www.crash.net)
1. Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing RSV4 1m 31.7s
2. Leon Camier GBR Fixi Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 31.9s
3. Jonathan Rea GBR Pata Honda CBR1000RR 1m 32.0s
4. Leon Haslam GBR Pata Honda CBR1000RR 1m 32.0s
5. Marco Melandri ITA BMW GoldBet S1000RR 1m 32.2s
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Aprilia Racing RSV4 1m 32.3s
7. Jules Cluzel FRA Fixi Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 32.5s
8. Davide Giugliano ITA Althea Aprilia RSV4 1m 32.7s
9. Ayrton Badovini ITA Alstare Ducati 1199 R 1m 32.8s
10. Max Neukirchner GER MR Ducati 1199 R 1m 32.9s
11. Chaz Davies GBR BMW GoldBet S1000RR 1m 33.0s
12. Loris Baz FRA Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 33.2s
13. Michel Fabrizio ITA Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 1m 33.7s
14. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 34.5s
Images: courtesy IRPR
