World Superbike new-boy Ben Spies is already hugely excited about the 2009 season despite only having two days with the Sanstander Yamaha team in Portugal.

The three-time AMA Champion spent one day riding the 2008 bike and day two on the 2009 "Big-Bang" YZF-R1, setting the day's third fastest lap time to boot, and only a few tenths behind fastest man Shane Byrne.

“The whole Superbike weekend has been great for me. Having my own crew chief here from the US joining the team is good, he really understands me and it’s great to see him working well with the Yamaha Motor Italia Technical Chief Silvano Galbusera," said Spies.

"Getting out on Nori’s bike we made a couple of changes and got going, it answered a lot of questions for me on the different tyre manufacturer and riding new circuits.

"The 2009 bike is at the beginning of its development, but for where it’s at now compared to where we will be when we line up at Philip Island it’s hugely exciting. The team worked really hard on the bike this weekend and it’s just going to get better and better. I’m really looking forward to next year.”

The team will move to Kyalami, South Africa, for its second test to take the next steps in the development of the bike. So far the team’s minor modifications to the standard bike include a modified cam-shaft, an enlarged radiator for extra cooling and the addition of an oil cooler.

The new bike has no rear sub-frame but incorporates a strengthened frame. The exhaust is unique, and was developed in partnership with Akrapovic. The standard fuel tank has also been replaced with an aluminium tank with increased capacity. The bike features the latest Magneti Marelli electronic systems. The new swing arm is also developed purely for the WSB race bike based on knowledge taken from the 2008 racing season.