Reigning World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes set the fastest time on day one of World Superbike testing at Portimao today, setting a 1’43.128 to end inside his own race fastest lap from earlier in the month and a tenth faster than nearest rival Sylvain Guintoli on the works Aprilia.
Sykes was one of only four riders to go out in the morning session but come the afternoon all ten took to the Portugese tarmac with Davide Guigliano setting the third quickest time, some eight-tenths off Sykes while new dad Marco Melandri was fourth, a further three-tenths behind his compatriot.
Loris Baz was fifth and almost 1.5s slower than his works Kawasaki team-mate with Chaz Davies’ Ducati next along. Claudio Corti was passed fit by the circuit medical team following his accident at the track during race weekend.
The Voltcom Suzuki team are not attend ingthe test and neither are Pata Honda with both Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea on Suzuka Eight-Hours duty.
Portimao World Superbike test day one - conditions dry
1 1 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'45.104 1'43.128 1'43.128 160,298 70
2 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'43.279 1'43.279 0.151 0.151 160,064 46
3 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Ducati Superbike Team Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1'43.963 1'43.963 0.835 0.684 159,010 32
4 33 M. MELANDRI ITA Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'44.312 1'44.288 1'44.288 1.160 0.325 158,515 45
5 76 L. BAZ FRA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'44.587 1'44.587 1.459 0.299 158,062 30
6 7 C. DAVIES GBR Ducati Superbike Team Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1'44.737 1'44.737 1.609 0.150 157,835 34
7 71 C. CORTI ITA MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta F4 RR 1'46.014 1'45.032 1'45.032 1.904 0.295 157,392 56
8 44 D. SALOM ESP Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1'45.048 1'45.048 1.920 0.016 157,368 40
9 21 A. ANDREOZZI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1'46.064 1'45.400 1'45.400 2.272 0.352 156,843 51
10 11 J. GUARNONI FRA MRS Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1'45.793 1'45.793 2.665 0.393 156,260 41
