The curtain has just come down on 2009 WSBK season on Sunday, but the first day of the official 2010 test got underway today at Portimao.
Not all riders had their transponders on, so the times are unofficial and from some reporters turned time keepers scattered around the track.
Jonathan Rea posted the fastest times in both the morning and afternoon sessions, with a best lap of 1′42″156 (Ben Spies best lap during the race was 1′42″412).
Immediately behind Rea was Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio with a 1′42″362, which was also lower than the official record.
Newly crowned 2009 Supersport champion Cal Crutchlow, who was promoted to Yamaha’s Superbike team finished third.
This morning he set a 1’44”139 on his first outing with the R1, but binned his bike, but this afternoon did a 1’42”795.
Noriyuki Haga who lost the championship to Ben Spies was fourth, but never dipped below the 1’43 mark.
James Toseland is present at Portimao.
The Brit rider who got permission from Herve Poncharal to take part in the test, before the final MotoGP season race at Valencia.
Toseland’s fastest lap this morning was 1’46”608 while getting to know the unfamiliar circuit, and this afternoon reportedly posted a best time of 1’43”7.
Max Neukirchner is back in the saddle with a best time 1’43”810, despite all the controversy and mystery regarding his health that prompted Alstare Suzuki to drop the German rider who got scooped up by Ten Kate Honda.
Regis Laconi was back on track with his DFX Ducati after fracturing two vertebra; five months after his horrific accident at Kyalami.
Laconi did some morning testing, a first step towards his Superbike return and his best time was 1′46″458, while rider Javier Fores took over in the afternoon.
Aprilia was present with Max Biaggi, Leon Camier and test rider Alex Hofmann.
Max Biaggi best lap was unofficially 1′43″4, half a second faster than Leon Camier.
Alstare Suzuki was also present their new rider line up Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli, but the team garage remained under wraps for the day.
Apparently in tomorrow’s final day of testing Suzuki will be using a new engine with a Marelli MHT unit.
Haslam was sixth.
Kawasaki had a number of different riders testing today.
Tom Sykes who missed the final round with his Yamaha team due to a shoulder injury and is now riding for Kawasaki did a few laps this morning, while Superstock Joan Lascorz took an unofficial seventh place, despite a fall.
Test rider Hidemichi Takahashi was also on track.
Chris Vermeulen who’ll be running with the team in 2010 was present, but could not take part in the test, as he is still contracted to MotoGP team Rizla Suzuki.
Carlos Checa who is now with Althea Racing was coming to grips with his Ducati that the team will run in 2010.
Squadra Corse Italia ran a bike for Luca Scassa.
Day 1 Unofficial Test Times:1.
Rea (Honda) 1’42”156; 2.
Fabrizio (Ducati) 1’42”362; 3.
Cruthlow (Yamaha) 1’42”795; 4.
Haga (Ducati) 1’43”054; 5.
Biaggi (Aprilia) 1’43”444; 6.
Haslam (Suzuki) 1’43”512; 7.
Toseland (Yamaha) 1’43”699; 8.
Neukirchner (Honda) 1’43”809; 9.
Guintoli (Suzuki) 1’43”810; 10.
Checa (Ducati) 1’43”894; 11.
Lascorz (Kawasaki) 1’43”950; 12.
Camier (Aprilia) 1’44”013; 13.
Berger (Honda) 1’45”213; 14.
Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’45”855; 15.
Laconi (Ducati) 1’46”470; 16.
Hofmann (Aprilia) 1’46”759; 17.
Praia (Ducati) 1’47”084; 18.
Takahashi (Kawasaki) 1’49”272.
