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Leon Camier keeps record pace in official testing Day 1
Phillip Island (Australia), Monday 18 February 2013 - The eni FIM Superbike World Championship riders have taken the Phillip Island GP Circuit by storm as the first of two official testing days went on today. Leon Camier proved again to be the man on the move by setting Day 1 best lap time of 1'31.243. The FIXI Crescent Suzuki rider was followed closely by new Pata Honda World Superbike rider Leon Haslam and Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia).
Leon Camier: "We needed to change some stuff after the bike had been re-built, so this morning was there no big hurry to push from the start. We changed the bike a bit in the lunch-break, because unfortunately it didn't quite feel the same as it did before I smashed it up last week! The feeling came back and we also had to change quite a bit because of the heat, I did the same lap-time in the cooler conditions last week as I did in the heat today, so I think we did a pretty good job. It's very close at the top, so it doesn't really count for anything, because the race will be difficult and the other guys have got some time to perfect what they've got. We are in quite good shape at the moment, but we know there is still a lot to do for the rest of this week."
The ultra-smooth new track surface allowed the top-7 riders to get under the circuit lap record. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) ended up 4th ahead of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK), Carlos Checa (Team Alstare Ducati) and team mate Sylvain Guintoli.
The 2011 World Superbike Champion is back after being treated for a blocked intestine that ruled him out of last week's two-day private test. Checa finished 6th in front of former team mate Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia). It's been an unfortunate day for new Aprilia Racing Team signing Sylvain Guintoli, who high-sided out of turn 12 in the morning and completed only 10 laps in the afternoon, following a technical problem on his RSV4 1000 Factory.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) and Tom Sykes complete the top-ten, and the Kawasaki Racing Team was not 100% yet after injuring his left hand last Thursday, during the second day of private tests at Phillip Island. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing Ducati) was transferred to Dandenong Hospital following a heavy crash at the last turn during the morning session. Ayrton Badovini (Team Alstare Ducati) did not enter the track today as a precaution after last week's crash.
Times: 1. Camier (Suzuki) 1'31.243 average 175.378 kph; 2. Haslam (Honda) 1'31.396; 3. Fabrizio (Aprilia) 1'31.401; 4. Laverty (Aprilia) 1'31.452; 5. Melandri (BMW) 1'31.485; 6. Checa (Ducati) 1'31.523; 7. Giugliano (Aprilia) 1'31.701; 8. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1'31.966; 9. Rea (Honda) 1'31.980; 10. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'32.061;11. Davies (BMW) 1'32.077; 12. Stauffer (Honda) 1'32.231; 13. Clementi (BMW) 1'32.789; 14. Cluzel (Suzuki) 1'32.817; 15. Iannuzzo (BMW) 1'33.162; 16. Neukirchner (Ducati) 1'33.541; 17. Baz (Kawasaki) 1'33.628; 18. Allerton (BMW) 1'34.009; 19. Sandi (Kawasaki) 1'34.094; 20. Lundh (Kawasaki) 1'34.612.
World Supersport - Lowes quickest in WSS official test Day 1
The first day of official testing got underway today at Phillip Island and saw Yakhnich Motorsport rider Sam Lowes top the timesheets for the Supersport class, ahead of reigning champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki). Despite a late start in the afternoon session, Lowes got quickly up to speed, eventually setting a 1'33.950 lap time resulting in him being the only rider to get into the 1'33 lap time bracket.
Temperatures rose dramatically in the afternoon session - up to a 60° C on track and 35° C in the air - giving hard time to all Supersport riders. Third placed Vladimir Leonov fell down at turn 9 due to some oil on track and he was followed straight away by Mathew Scholtz (Suriano Racing Team Suzuki).
The young South African was quickly taken to Medical Centre to undergo checks that found no injuries. Red flag came out and the session was stopped - and ultimately ended - for track cleaning. Rookie Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) showed once again to be ready and steady for his debut World Supersport season by being consistently in the top positions.
The current European Superstock 600 Champion finished the second part in fifth position ahead of veteran Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Mahi Racing Team India) and Australian wildcard Josh Hook (Team Honda Racing). Massimo Roccoli (Team Pata by Martini Yamaha) and Fabio Menghi (VFT Racing Yamaha) were 8th and 9th, followed by 2011 runner up David Salom (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) and ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse duo of Roberto Rolfo and Christian Iddon.
Times: 1. Lowes (Yamaha) 1'33.950 average 170.325 kph; 2. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1'34.155; 3. Leonov (Yamaha) 1'34.307; 4. Talmacsi (Honda) 1'34.436; 5. Vd Mark (Honda) 1'34.642; 6. Foret (Kawasaki) 1'34.764; 7. Hook (Honda) 1'34.832; 8. Roccoli (Yamaha) 1'35.056; 9. Rolfo (MV Agusta) 1'35.213; 10. Salom (Kawasaki); etc.
