WSBK testing: Byrne sets the pace

January 26, 2009

British gun Shane Byrne (Ducati) has maintained his excellent form at the Portimao circuit in Portugal, setting the pace in a rain-affected three-day official test from January 23-25.

The reigning British Superbike champion, who has two wins from just six WSBK starts, was the fastest with a 1:43.294, ahead of American Ben Spies (Yamaha, 1:43.484) and Japan's Noriyuki Haga (Ducati, 1:43.487).

Byrne also set the fastest time in a test at Portimao in November last year.

This time around, Byrne again led the pack as the top seven riders all went under Troy Bayliss's lap record of 1:43.787, which was set in last year's final round.

Of the Australians at Portimao, Troy Corser was 11th on his BMW S1000 RR, ahead of Broc Parkes (Kawasaki, 15th) and Brendan Roberts (Ducati, 19th). Karl Muggeridge was not in attendance, as the Suzuki kit bikes are not ready yet.

"The weather didn't help any of us during these three days and I'm guessing that we only got about two and a bit hours or so dry track time," said Corser. "Considering that, I think the tests weren't too bad for us and although there is still a lot of work to do, we are continuing to make good progress and learn more every time we go out.

"I'm happy now with the clutch and now we need to work on smoothing out the throttle response. I feel that the bike is powerful and that's a good feeling to have at this stage. Once we harness that power and smooth out a few things, we can exploit the bike's potential

"I don't know how soon or how long that's going to be, but everybody is working hard and we should have an indication of our rate of progress in our next tests. Hopefully the weather will be good and we will get a lot drier track time."

The overall Superbike times were as follows:

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.

In Supersport, Spain's Joan Lascorz took the all-new Kawasaki ZX-6R to the top of the perch, from rookie Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) and 2007 champion Kenan Sofouglu (Honda).

Australia's world champion Andrew Pitt (Honda) was fifth, ahead of his countrymen Garry McCoy (Triumph, 11th) and Honda trio Mark Aitchison (15th), Anthony West (18th) and Russell Holland (21st).

Times were as follows:

J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'45.214; 2. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'45.264; 3. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1'45.397; 4. Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'45.757; 5. Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'45.817; 6. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1'45.960; 7. Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'45.971; 8. Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'46.018; 9. Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1'46.024; 10. Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'46.036; 11. McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1'46.220; 12. Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'46.561; 13. Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'46.633; 14. Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'46.712; 15. Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'46.911; 16. Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.041; 17. Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'47.095; 18. West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.270; 19. Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.508; 20. Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1'48.131; 21. Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'48.311; 22. Szkopek P. (POL) Triumph Daytona 675 1'48.331; 23. Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 1'48.364; 24. Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1'48.459; 25. Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'48.849; 26. Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'49.149; 27. Pradita Doni T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'51.338; 28. Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'51.480; 29. Morillas Cuenca J. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'53.407

Many of the top teams now leave Portimao and head to Phillip Island for some private testing before the opening round at said circuit from February 27 until March 1.

For more information on the local round, click here.

Photos: Byrne, Corser and Roberts