The World Superbike round at Monza has kicked off and to top the timesheets in the first practice was Jonathan Rea.
The Castrol Honda rider who certainly had bad luck last year at this circuit and wanting to make amends hit the top spot with a best lap of 1.
43.
712, but it was a tight practice with Troy Corser in second on his BMW S1000RR and just 0.
053s from Rea and fourteen other riders within a second.
Following Corser was tightly knit trio of Italians; Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) in fourth, reigning World Champion Max Biaggi who is already hitting 330,2 km/h in the speed trap and Marco Melandri who is reacquanting himself with the Monza circuit.
Six went Leon Camier who hit the same top speed on his Aprilia as his team mate Biaggi.
Seventh went Eugene Laverty followed by Michel Fabrizio and Carlos Checa, who predicted that his Ducati would suffer at the Temple of Speed, even if he was only a little more than a half of a second from Rea.
Closing out the top ten was Leon Haslam.
Crashers included Michel Fabrizio and unfortunate Chris Vermeulen, who was transported to the medical center for a check-up (we’ll probably have some news on his condition later this afternoon) and Pedercini’s Mark Aitchison.
James Toseland on his return after his hand surgery, was 21st while wildcard Fabrizio Lai and his Echo Sport Racing team was last.
WSBK Monza Free Practice results:01- Jonathan Rea – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – 1’43.
71202- Troy Corser – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 0.
05303- Ayrton Badovini – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR – + 0.
20104- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.
38705- Marco Melandri – Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 0.
49606- Leon Camier – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.
50907- Eugene Laverty – Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 0.
52008- Michel Fabrizio – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 0.
54509- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 0.
55210- Leon Haslam – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 0.
59111- Jakub Smrz – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 0.
62412- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 0.
65213- Maxime Berger – Supersonic Racing Team – Ducati 1198 – + 0.
66214- Joan Lascorz – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 0.
75415- Ruben Xaus – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 0.
84716- Noriyuki Haga – Pata Racing Team Aprilia – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.
85217- Chris Vermeulen – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1.
39718- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 1.
41119- Roberto Rolfo – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.
23220- Mark Aitchison – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.
41721- James Toseland – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR – + 2.
85622- Fabrizio Lai – Echo Sport Racing Company – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 3.
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