WSB test Imola – Fabrizio heads Rea, Haslam suffers big crash

Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio was once again the fastest man on track at the end of the opening four hour session this morning. The 25 year old Italian ran in the top three from mid morning onwards and posted a lap time of 1.47.854 over i/10th faster than Leon Haslam’s day one best.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea continued to turn around his run of poor results by posting the second fastest time of the day with a lap time nearly a full second faster than his day one best.

Leon Haslam claimed third, but also suffered a heavy crash which brought out the red flags and led to a premature end to the session. The 27 year old Brit was out on a new rear tyre but lost the front at the second chicane.

Speaking to MCN Haslam said: “It was a big one. It’s fourth gear through there, I had a new rear tyre but the front had done about ten laps. It left me pretty winded and I was on the ground on my hands and knees for a while. I feel ok now and the only injury I’ve got is a big bruise on my back.”

Another man to crash was Xerox Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga. The Japanese rider lost the front at the Tosa corner while testing a new spec Pirelli front tyres. He emerged unscathed from the crash to end the session sixth fastest.

Cal Crutchlow claimed fourth with a resurgent Ruben Xaus onboard the BMW S1000RR in fifth.

Tom Sykes benefitted from the extra grip from the new spec rear Pirellis to secure an impressive eight place ahead of Troy Corser and Shane Byrne who rounded out the top ten.

1 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’47.854
2 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’47.990
3 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’48.242
4 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’48.320
5 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’48.329
6 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’48.364
7 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’48.868
8 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’48.943
9 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’49.079
10 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’49.150
11 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’49.214
12 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’49.429
13 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’49.555
14 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.634
15 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’49.723
16 77 C. VERMEULEN AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’50.099
17 23 B. PARKES AUS ECHO CRS Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’50.734
18 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’51.572
19 26 J. LASCORZ ESP Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’51.971
20 51 M. PIRRO ITA HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’52.244