Rea leads opening day of test

From worldsbk.com

The first day of 2010 World Superbike season testing got underway in dry and warm conditions at Portimao, with many new faces and rider combos in view.

It was an existing bike and rider combination which set the fastest time, when Jonathan Rea made a best of 1:42.156, closely followed by Michel Fabrizio on a 1:42.362. Cal Crutchlow set a blistering 1:42.795 to go third fastest in his first Yamaha WSB experience.

The riding line up featured some riders who are testing with their new teams for the first time, and several other riders either ‘auditioning’ for a ride in 2010, or having a ride to help gather data for off-season development.

The fastest rider on show early on was Rea, with WSS regular Joan Lascorz fast on the official Kawasaki, despite a fall midway through the day.

Double World Superbike Champion James Toseland got to grips with a Superbike again, alongside his Yamaha YZF-R1 team-mate Crutchlow, who was himself moving to a new class after winning WSS on Sunday.

Max Neukirchner had his first taste of Honda power for a couple of years in the Ten Kate Honda pit, and was quick after his recent recovery from injury. Leon Haslam was also fast on his first Suzuki ride ever.

Tom Sykes rode a Kawasaki Superbike on Tuesday, with an injured shoulder, while Regis Laconi and Javier Fores tried out their DFX Ducatis for size.

The Althea team took its first Ducati footsteps, with its new signing Carlos Checa.

Not all riders had transponders fitted to their machines, therefore the times below are not official, but gathered from a number of sources. The tests continue for one more day, on Wednesday.

Superbike
1. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:42.156
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) 1:42.362
3. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1:42.795
4. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) 1:43.098
5. Leon Haslam (Suzuki) 1:43.300
6. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 1:43.400
7. James Toseland (Yamaha) 1:43.700
8. Max Neukirchner (Honda) 1:43.810
9. Leon Camier (Aprilia) 1:43.900
10. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) 1:43.902
11. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1:43.951
12. Javier Fores (Ducati) 1:44.413
13. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:45.500
14. Regis Laconi (Ducati) 1:46.458

Supersport
1. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) 1:44.580
2. Broc Parkes (Kawasaki) 1:45.000
3. Michele Pirro (Honda) 1:45.323
4. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki) 1:45.875
5. David Salom (Kawasaki) 1:46.200