Jonathan Rea was once again the fastest rider on the final day of testing at Portimao posting the fastest time of 1’41.
7s.
Rea’s lap on race tires was almost a second faster than his best qualifying time from the weekend and 0.
5s up from Ben Spies pole position.
Max Neukirchner was also back on track today and his best lap was 1’43.
5s.
Jonathan Rea:I just want to say how really, really proud I am of the whole team, who have worked so hard over the last weeks.
They’ve gone through this test positively and methodically and got the bike working better.
The great thing is that there is still so much potential and that just fills me with confidence for next season.
The lap times were coming quite easily and we did all our work on used tyres.
Everyone deserves a good rest now before we get back to work in December.
Max Neukirchner:I did 70 laps on both days of the test, including runs of 16 laps so I’m quite tired after being off a bike for six months.
I’ve been training hard at home, but riding a bike is quite different and I know I’ve got a lot more work to do! However, I am really happy with the way this test has gone and on the second day I could feel that the pace was definitely coming, lap by lap.
I got a really good feeling with the bike and the team.
Of course, there is a long way to go before I can really understand how the bike works but it is a very good start.
Ducati Xerox riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio tested for only half a day with Haga trying out a new clutch and a new fork but declared he prefered his usual one.
Fabrizio also tested the the new fork, and a new shock provided by Ohlins.
Noriyuki Haga:Today we tried the new front fork and it felt quite similar to the one I use already but overall I prefer the one I have used up until now, the new one didn’t give me anything extra.
I worked with the new clutch which is a bit of a different concept but it gave me a good feeling and it definitely has potential.
I’m happy with how it’s gone here but to be honest I’m ready to go home as it’s been a long week.
Michel Fabrizio:I continued to test the fork that we used yesterday and I also tried the new shock.
With the bike in its 2009 configuration but with the new shock mounted I was immediately half a second faster so it seems to be a big improvement.
I’m very happy with the times as me and Jonathan were again the fastest out there and I’d say the testing has finished on a very positive note.
Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland spent the full day testing and getting to know their R1’s and their new teams.
Crutchlow posted a best lap of 1’42.
1 while Toseland was a full second off his new team mate’s best time.
Cal Crutchlow:A good enough second day for us again.
I think we’ve worked hard looking at a few different things with the shocks.
We haven’t changed that much yet so we’ve got some work to do.
We’ve changed a couple of things and had a play around with the electronics which has been good.
Hopefully we’ll keep working hard, the team has done a good job and I’m pleased with the first test.
James Toseland:I’ve been looking at Ben’s race time and in two days on the bike we are nearly a second a lap faster by the end which I’m quite pleased with.
We’ve got some work to do but for my first test on the bike we’ve been getting to understand the suspension and a few things and getting to understand how the bike reacts to some changes.
We’re working on some of the electronics and an area of engine work as well.
We’ve had a good test and have a lot of information to work on for next year.
I like the bike, it’s so much different to what I’m used to though so it’s taking some time to tame the beast! When you ride a heavier bike you have to take your time to find its limits.
One thing I didn’t want to do was crash as I’ve got another GP to race next week.
I’m really pleased with the team, and looking forward to testing again as soon as possible.
Althea Racing’s Carlos Checa is adapting to the Ducati 1098 and put in a best time of 1′43″423.
I’m thoroughly satisfied with the results of these last two days of testing.
Today we also improved yesterday’s results.
I was also able to terminate one long run and Iestablished a good pace even though this will not be the bike we’ll use in the next 2010 WorldSuperbike Championship.
I still have to adapt my riding style to this new bike but I really enjoyriding the Ducati 1098.
In any case, the most important aspect of the two-day test session is that I realized that we have the base and potential to reach very good results.
The team has been great with me and we’re working really well together.
Leon Haslam:I am over the moon in every way and really excited about the future.
We went through more than I expected and found many good ideas to work with.
It was a shame that I injured myself last Sunday in the morning warm-up on raceday, because it meant that I wasn’t 100% here at these tests.
I have had internal and external stitches in my left elbow and also damaged some ankle ligaments, but I don’t really notice any pain when I am on the bike.
At the end of the day, I feel a bit sore, but nothing too bad.
I am impressed with the bike and the team and think we have established a good relationship very quickly.
Everybody has helped me so much, right from day one.
Although Sylvain and I have not had much time to discuss the bike together, I know that we both have said more or less the same things and I am sure that we’ll work very well together.
When I got on the bike for the first time, I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I was so happy after the first day because I lapped a second quicker than on raceday last weekend.
Of course there is a lot more to learn and it is just a case of getting down to it, making improvements and keeping progressing.
It’s been really good to have this test, so soon after the season has finished, and get right into it straightaway and now I am already looking forward to the next tests.
Sylvain Guintoli: The main purpose of these tests has been to understand the Suzuki Alstare GSX-R1000 K9 bike, get to know the team and also try many different things, including suspensions.
We have done a lot of good work during these two days and it’s going to be good now to have a bit of a rest, especially as I was racing here fo three days at the weekend.
One thing is for sure, after five days here, I know the track now pretty well! I’m also happy that my leg didn’t play up too much and I have to thank the Clinica Mobile for all the massages and looking after me so well.
This bike is quite different to the Crescent Suzuki I rode in the British Superbike Championship and my first job last Friday was to begin working on this bike and getting comfortable with it.
Every time out, my feeling for the bike improves and it’s great that we are going forward all the time.
It has been very interesting today and we’ve found out a lot about the bike.
There are some good points and there some things we need to improve.
I’m really looking forward to the next tests because we have lots of ideas to try out and hopefully we will keep on improving.
Chris Vermeulen who wasn’t allowed to test at Portimao will be testing at the Autopolis circuit in Japan on the 18th and 19th of November.
DFX did not take part in today’s test.
Day 2 Unofficial Testing Times:Jonathan Rea – 1’41.
878Michel Fabrizio 1’41.
992Cal Crutchlow 1’42.
115Leon Haslam 1’42.
251Max Biaggi 1’42.
71Leon Camier 1’42.
79Noriyuki Haga 1’43.
098James Toseland – 1’43.
147Carlos Checa 1’43.
425Max Neukirchner 1’43.
549Sylvain Guintoli 43.
612Joan Lascorz 1’43.
902Javier Fores 1’44.
413Tom Sykes – 1’44.
9Vittorio Ianuzzo – 1’44.
908Alex Hofmann (Aprilia test rider) 1’45.
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