Byrne ends test fastest

From worldsbk.com

The last day of World Superbike Championship official testing at Portimao on Sunday was affected by adverse weather conditions, and thus the absolute best times of the entire test were largely set on Saturday, leaving Shane Byrne as the new track pacesetter on his private Sterilgarda Ducati.

"I didn't expect to be fastest in the test to be honest but I'm not surprised," declared 'Shakey'. "The bike's working really well and the relationship and feedback with the team and my engineer is great."

Only two top riders improved their weekend times on Sunday -- Troy Corser, who was finally ranked an impressive 11th on the all-new BMW four-cylinder, and Max Biaggi on the v-four Aprilia, who went 18th.

With new rules in place for both Superpole qualifying and flag-to-flag races each was given a trial run on Sunday. In Superpole there will now be 20 riders in the qualifying group, which then drops to 16, then eight in the final 12-minute session, which determines the polesitter. The top 20 riders from this weekend's sessions went forward to practice this discipline on Sunday.

The flag-to-flag practice was included in the very last practice session of all three days, with riders coming in to change to their spare bikes when the signal was given, without any interruption of the simulated race session.

Many of the top teams now leave Portimao to get to Phillip Island well in advance of the race, to undergo their own private test sessions before the start of the season, in just over one month's time.

After less than ideal weather conditions intervened on the final day of Supersport testing the best times for all 29 riders were set on Saturday, leaving Spaniard Joan Lascorz (Provec Motocard Kawasaki) the fastest rider of all.

The all-new Kawasaki ZX-6R was followed home by the Yamaha R6 of class rookie Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Supersport Team), then 2007 World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) who was fastest on Sunday, but third quickest overall.

Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda) was half a second from the quickest testing time in fourth, while 2008 champion Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) rounded out the top five.

The first ranked Suzuki was the Pioneer Hoegee GSX-R600 of Barry Veneman, seventh, while the top Triumph 675 was Gianluca Nannelli's BE1 triple, ninth but third in Sunday's changeable sessions.

High winds were also a feature, with riders having to allow for their changes of direction and intensity, which also held down lap times. The highest lap count, over all three weather affected days, was 114 for Patrick Vostarek's Czech Intermoto Honda.

Overall Superbike Times
1. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1:43.294
2. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1:43.484
3. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1:43.487
4. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1:43.546
5. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:43.657
6. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1:43.674
7. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1:43.767
8. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:43.951
9. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:44.115
10. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:44.170
11. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1:44.261
12. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1:44.425
13. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1:44.546
14. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1:44.610
15. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:44.704
16. Polita A. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:45.108
17. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 1:45.179
18. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1:45.199
19. Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1:45.278
20. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:45.393
21. Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:45.446
22. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:45.672
23. Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:45.679
24. Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:45.820
25. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1:46.128
26. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1:46.916
27. Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1:46.971