WSB Test Imola: Fabrizio stays in control as lap times tumble

Xerox Ducati man Michel Fabrizio maintained his position at the top of the time sheets with a blistering 1m 48.937s lap to stamp his authority on the two day Imola test. Fabrizio’s lap time was a significant 0.372 s faster than the chasing pack led by fellow Italian and Ducati man Lorenzo Lanzi.

Britain’s Jonathan Rea continued to impress in third just 4/1000ths behind Lanzi and 7/100th ahead of Yamaha man Ben Spies.

Tom Sykes has made significant progress during the test thanks to a host of electronic and suspension upgrades and along with team-mate Spies the two Yamaha’s were consistently the fastest bikes through the speed trap.

John Hopkins jumped to sixth onboard the Stiggy Honda and like his team-mate Leon Haslam in eighth did not get use of any of the new development tyres from Pirelli.

Shane Byrne ran as high as third, but dropped to ninth at the finish on standard tyres. Due to the lack of parts to test and the fact that he will not get access to the development tyres Byrne will not take any further part in the test.

1 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’48.937
2 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’49.309
3 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.313
4 19 B. SPIES USA Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’49.392
5 66 T. SYKES GBR Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’49.422
6 121 J. HOPKINS USA Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.443
7 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’49.467
8 91 L. HASLAM GBR Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.555
9 67 S. BYRNE GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1’49.577
10 56 S. NAKANO JPN Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’49.645
11 7 C. CHECA ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.816
12 14 M. LAGRIVE FRA Honda Althea Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’50.265
13 3 M.BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’50.372
14 10 F. NIETO ESP DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’50.423
15 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’50.486
16 9 R. KIYONARI JPN Ten Kate Honda Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’50.577
17 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki World Superbike R.T. Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’50.583
18 100 M. TAMADA JPN Kawasaki World Superbike R.T. Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’50.593
19 53 A. POLITA ITA Celani Race Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’50.743
20 71 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’51.071
21 76 M.NEUKIRCHNER GER Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’51.077
22 77 V. IANNUZZO ITA Squadra Corse Italia Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.967