Sykes tops WSBK test
The countdown to the 2012 Superbike World Championship opener has begun with a private test at Phillip Island, with Kawasaki's Tom Sykes the early pacesetterKawasaki’s Tom Sykes was the fastest rider on day one of a private world Superbike test at Phillip Island today, ahead of defending world champion Carlos Checa (Ducati) and Aprilia new boy Eugene Laverty.
Sykes’ best lap was a 1:33.0, while Checa – who had a scare when he whistled past two track-borne waterfowl at 300km/h – and Laverty both recorded 1:33.3s.
“We were just working on bike balance, getting it all dialled into the circuit, just relaxing and enjoying it,” said Sykes. “I was happy that we were showing good consistency. I did not do a full race run but we did use the same tyres for a long time.”
New BMW factory rider Marco Melandri, who replaced Australia’s retired great Troy Corser, was next in line, followed by Max Biaggi (Aprilia), Leon Haslam (BMW) and Jakub Smrz (Ducati) all on 1:34.0.
Local rider Dave Johnson (BMW) set a 1:35.7 with more to come as he gets his bike dialled in for the hotbed of WSBK racing.
American John Hopkins (Suzuki) had an early crash at the exit of turn two and suffered a suspected fracture of a bone in his hand, just behind the right ring finger. Hopkins was already recuperating from an operation in which he lost two knuckles from this finger. He is awaiting more tests to see the real extent of the damage and will sit out the remainder of the test, which will be held over three days.
The 2012 WSBK title will commence at Phillip Island from February 24-26.
Best times day one
Tom Sykes: 1:33.0
Carlos Checa: 1:33.3
Eugene Laverty: 1:33.3
Marco Melandri: 1:33.4
Leon Haslam: 1:33.7
Max Biaggi: 1:33.7
Jakub Smrz: 1:34.0
Sylvain Guintoli: 1:34.1
Joan Lascorz: 1:34.1
Maxime Berger: 1:34.3
Michel Fabrizio: 1:34.4
Leon Camier: 1:34.5
David Salom: 1:34.9
Ayrton Badovini: 1:35.0
David Johnson: 1:35.7
David Giugliano: 1:35.8
Lorenzo Zanetti: 1:37.1
John Hopkins: No time given/crash
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