Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio ended today's World Superbike test at South Africa's Kyalami circuit with the fastest lap time while ill Brit Tom Sykes had to watch from pitlane.

The Huddersfield youngster, who only managed 16 laps this morning, has been struck down by some kind of mystery bug which has sapped all his energy, but he remains confident he will be back tomorrow.

"All I want to do is go out and get laps in on the bike," said Sykes, "but I'm just drained and have no strength. It's really frustrating because I got here and was perfectly. I think I'm finished for the day, after only about 16 laps."

Fabrizio, meanwhile, is three-tenths faster than Sykes' team-mate and WSB new boy Ben Spies while Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner and Noriyuki Haga, on the second Ducati, is fourth.
“I’m really pleased because it’s the first time I’ve lapped on this track”, said Fabrizio. “I feel sure can go even quicker, I’ll try and do so in the remaining two days.”
Spies added: “I like this track; it’s almost like some AMA tracks and it’s not too technical, not that difficult to learn, but I was having a lot of fun riding on it. We were most interested in trying out the bike in hotter track conditions than in Portimao.

"The handling is good; the engine comes in really smooth exiting corners and it lays the power down well. Top end makes no difference in that situation and the engine really drives well from low down.”
It's Haga's first time out on the bike and he had a collision with Irishman Jonathan Rea at the start of the session, but both riders were unhurt and managed to carry on.

Haga then crashed again twice, the second off stopping him from finishing the final 15 minutes of the day's session.
World Superbike test, Kyalami, day one
1 Fabrizio (Ita-Ducati) 1'41"204 (66 laps)
2 Spies (Usa-Yamaha) 1'41"599 (46)
3 Neukirchner (Ger-Suzuki) 1'41"713 (69)
4 Haga (Jpn-Ducati) 1'41"730 (31)
5 Kagayama (Jpn-Suzuki) 1'41"755 (39)
6 Nakano (Jpn-Aprilia) 1'41"846 (51)
7. Biaggi (Ita-Aprilia) 1'42"446 (29)
8. Kiyonari (Jpn-Honda) 1'42"744 (62)
9. Corser (Aus-Bmw) 1'42"975 (33)
10. Xaus (Spa-Bmw) 1'43"274 (41)
11. Checa (Spa-Honda) 1'43"418 (10)
12. Rea (GB-Honda) 1'44"496 (16)
13. Sykes (GB-Yamaha) 1'46"780 (16)