It would seem that Aprilia may come under fire from other World Superbike team managers if it insists on attending the official tests at Phillip Island in the coming days because the factory are already there and doing laps.

Riders Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano have been out on track with the Italian doing 91 laps with a best time of 1'33.40 while the Japanese has done 77 laps, with a best of 1'33.55. The times are only around a second slower than Troy Bayliss' Superpole time from last year.

Apparently, Xerox Ducati manager Davide Tardozzi is not happy about his Italian rivals having five full days' testing before the first round, given the current economic climate, and said that Aprilia should not be automatically allowed to test from tomorrow for two days and then again on February 21 and 22.

It is believed Tardozzi wants to get around the table with other Superbike team managers to try and manage the escalating costs, and also to do something about what he perceives to be Aprilia's advantage at the first round in two weeks' time.