Dovi leads the Jerez testing hoardes

With the weather supposedly about to take a turn for the worst on Thursday and Friday all the teams who had planned a day off on Wednesday at Jerez went out again. They were joined by fresh teams from both MotoGP and WSB paddocks in what was a busy day of dry weather testing.

Running without a transponder Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati MotoGP) was recorded with a best lap of 1’38.9, his factory team-mate Andrea Iannone a 1’39.0.

Stefan Bradl (Forward Racing Yamaha MotoGP) was the fastest rider on a transponder, third, with a 1’39.593, set on his 37th lap.

On a day when MotoGP power got to work on a dry Jerez track surface in earnest Ducati test team rider Michel Pirro put in a 1’40.5, and Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia MotoGP) the next best time with a 1’40.598. Hector Barbera (Avintia Ducati) was just a fraction behind with the fastest WSB man proving to be new Kawasaki signing Jonathan Rea, the very last rider in any category inside the 1’40s with a 1’40.738. He was seventh overall.

Former WSB factory rider Loris Baz (Forward Racing) recorded a 1’41.206 and a jump in performance from new Voltcom Crescent Suzuki rider Randy De Puniet saw him into the top WSB places with a 1’41.296, just ahead of Alex Lowes. They were ninth and tenth respectively.

Tom Sykes, suffering with a stomach complaint and not feeling his best, placed 11th today on his KRT machine. Chaz Davies was 14th running without a transponder and new WSB champion Sylvain Guintoli was 15th of the 26 riders who recorded a time.

A difficult first day, full of electronics niggles, for new MV Agusta Superbike rider Leon Camier saw him held back from his best potential in 24th place, with a 1’44.905.

Wednesday Times Jerez – Stopwatch and Transponders