Works Yamaha's Marco Melandri set the fastest time on day one of World Superbike testing at Misano today but his 1'36.0 is some way off Carlos Checa's best lap of 1'34.9 set in testing at the Italian circuit in May thi year.

Checa himself was second quickest on the Althea Ducati with Melandri's team-mate Eugene Laverty third and the Nurburgring second-race winner Tom Sykes, on the PBM Kawasaki, in fourth.

Soon-to-be MotoGP exile Toni Elias lapped on the ex-James Toseland BMW Italia bike and was a little over two seconds off the pace while Honda put out three bikes for Jonathan Rea, Ruben Xaus and Makoto Tamada - the Irishman was the fastest of the trio.

BMW and Aprilia have fielded their respective test riders Steve Martin and Alex Hofmann. Max Biaggi is still unfit with his foot injury while Leon Camier doesn't seem to know why he isn't there riding his Alitalia-liveried bike. Chris Vermuelen made a return to action posting the 12th fastest time.

Misano World Superbike test day one - conditions dry

1. Marco Melandri (Works Yamaha) 1'36.0

2. Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) 1'36.3

3. Eugene Laverty (Works Yamaha) 1'36.3

4. Tom Sykes (PBM Kawasaki) 1'36.5

5. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Italia) 1'36.8

6. Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) 1'36.9

7. Joan Lascorz (PBM Kawasaki) 1'36.9

8. Alex Hofmann (Alitalia Aprilia) 1'37.0 (test rider)

9. Steve Martin (BMW Motorrad) 1'37.9 (test rider)

10. Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) 1'38.0

11. Toni Elias (BMW Italia) 1'38.1

12. Chris Vermeulen (PBM Kawasaki) 1'38.4

13. Makoto Tamada (Castrol Honda) 1'39.8