World Superbike test at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimao in Portu

[KUCIAR666]

World Superbike test at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimao in Portugal.

Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike riders kick-off 2010 at Portimao

New for 2010 Yamaha World Superbike riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland took their first rides of the year today at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. Day one of the three day test saw the riders re-familiarize themselves with their YZF-R1?s and start working on their set-ups for the year.

The riders focus for the first day was continuing the development of their preferred settings. Crutchlow was on typically fast form, ending the day in second on the timesheet, less than two tenths of a second from the fastest rider. Team-mate James Toseland was also on form, ending the first ride of the year in fifth just half a second off the front.

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (2nd, 1?42.9)
?It wasn?t so bad for the first day. We?re still trying to get comfortable on the bike as we progress but we?re getting there. I?m working away at it and I think the times were good enough. To still be working out our settings and have good times near the top of the board is very satisfying.?

James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (5th, 1?43.3)
?I think I ended up in fifth at the end of the day but only about half a second separates me from first. I?m pretty pleased, we?ve been trying a lot out on the bike and it?s been a really productive day. We?ve tested a lot of things and eliminated a few. I?m hoping the weather holds for out tomorrow but rain is forecast. Having said that, I?ve not ridden this bike in the rain yet so I?m happy for it to rain tomorrow and then be dry on Sunday so we?re testing in all conditions.?

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager
?We did a great job today, everything was on schedule as it should have been. The team and riders worked really hard, we tested some tyres and as always also we have some other things in development. Cal was working hard on the positioning for his bike and James continues to get more confidence with bike as he gets used to his change from MotoGP.?

 

[KUCIAR666]

Testing day for Hannspree riders

Jonathan Rea was third fastest after today?s opening day of the pre-season World Superbike test at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimao in Portugal.

Fellow Briton, Leon Haslam, set the pace today, with Rea just a tenth behind. However, a crash near the end of the session left the Northern Irishman with a cut finger and bruised hands. He sat out all but the last 45 minutes of this afternoon?s 2h20m session.

?I wanted to end the day well,? said Rea, ?and continue testing a rear shock. We used the same type of tyre all day and did my best time after about ten laps. This morning it was on my first lap, so we learned a lot.?

Rea?s new team-mate for 2010, Max Neukirchner, continued his familiarisation with his new bike and team. Still only his fifth day back on the team?s CBR1000RR Fireblade after missing most of last season, the German is looking forward to putting in even more laps over the next two days.

?I?m never happy at the end of the first day,? Neukirchner said. ?It always takes me a while to get the feeling back ? it was the same at our last test in Valencia. Today we tried some different things at the rear and did a lot of laps. We?ve got two more days here, so we?ll continue tomorrow and get that feeling again.?

In today?s World Supersport sessions, the Hannspree Ten Kate team?s new recruit, Michele Pirro, set the second fastest time. His team-mate Kenan Sofuoglu, meanwhile, decided to sit out this test in order to give his broken ankle further time to heal before the next pre-season test at Phillip Island in Australia in four weeks.

WSBK Portmao test ? official times, day one
1 Leon Haslam (GBR) Suzuki 1?42.778s
2 Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha 1?42.960s
3 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?43.033s
4 Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia 1?43.364s
5 James Toseland (GBR) 1?43.378s
6 Shane Byrne (GBR) 1?43.569
14 Max Neukirchner (GER) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?44.453s

WSS Portmao test ? official times, day one
1 Joan Lascorz (ESP) 1?45.292s
2 Michele Pirro (ITA) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?45.587s
3 Miguel Praia (POR) Honda 1?45.834s
4 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Honda 1?45.909s
5 Katsuaki Fujiwara (JPN) 1?45.988s
6 Chaz Davies (GBR) Triumph 1?46.610s

 

[KUCIAR666]

THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM?S 2010 WORLD SUPERBIKE CAMPAIGN GETS UNDERWAY WITH TESTING AT PORTIMAO

Portimao (Portugal), Friday 22nd January 2010 - The 2010 World Superbike season officially got underway today with the start of a three-day test session at Portimao. Most of the riders signed up for the new season were present at the Portuguese circuit, and the Ducati Xerox team and riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio were very enthusiastic about getting back on board their Ducati 1198 machines after the winter break. The squad, at the track in its new formation for the first time, were equally eager to get back to work.

In the morning, and in ambient conditions (air temperature of 17?C, track 21?C), both Nori and Michel were straight out on track and, working with last year?s post-race test settings as a starting point, made constant improvements during the two-hour session. Unfortunately for Michel, a virus that had already made its presence felt in the last couple of days took hold and he was taken sick towards the end.

In the early afternoon, Michel felt well enough to go back on track but the undulating track surface only exasperated his nausea and so the team was unable to complete all of what was planned for today, cutting Michel?s afternoon session slightly short in the hope that he will have chance to recuperate before tomorrow. Noriyuki meanwhile had a very productive day and worked with his team to improve settings, both suspension and mapping, concluding today?s testing with the seventh fastest time overall, with Michel just behind him in eighth.

Noriyuki Haga
?We have made a positive start today and I?m definitely feeling better than I did the last time I was here! We have made various modifications to suspension and mapping settings throughout the day and we will continue to work on those areas tomorrow. Rain is forecast for tomorrow I think so we will see how that affects things. I?m getting on very well with my ?new look? team and feel very much at ease; it?s very easy to communicate with Luca, my race engineer. So I am feeling fairly confident and hope we can move forward over the weekend.?

Michel Fabrizio
?It?s a shame I don?t feel totally in shape today but there?s nothing we can do about it. I did my best throughout this morning and managed to make some improvement, but I just felt more and more sick during the afternoon, this is a particularly undulating track which doesn?t help matters. Anyway the Clinica Mobile are helping me, and I hope to be in better shape tomorrow in order to have two much more productive days tomorrow and Sunday.?

TIMES - DAY 1 ? Haslam (Suzuki) 1m42.7s; Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1m42.9s; Rea (Honda) 1m43.0s; Biaggi (Aprilia) 1m43.3s; Toseland (Yamaha) 1m43.5s; Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1m43.5; Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m43.7s

 

[KUCIAR666]

Rea and Pirro lead the way at wet Portimao

WBSK Test Portimao ? day two

Despite very different conditions from yesterday?s opening day, Hannspree Ten Kate Honda?s Jonathan Rea topped the timing sheets in both today?s World Superbike test sessions at Portimao in Portugal.

Heavy rain this morning meant most riders remained in their team garages, with Rea only venturing out for ten laps in the final half-hour of the session, going quickest on his final lap.

It was still wet at the beginning of this afternoon?s 2h20m session at the 4.592km Portuguese circuit but the track began to show signs of drying with 20 minutes remaining. Rea went out on intermediate tyres to set a series of fastest laps, eventually emerging three tenths faster than yesterday?s pace setter, Leon Haslam.

?We had completely different conditions today,? said a smiling Rea afterwards. ?We ran with a prototype wet this morning, when conditions were bordering on dangerous. Then, on intermediates, we managed to go fastest again this afternoon and got to test some electronics as well. Today was a lot more positive than yesterday, really, and a lot less painful!?

Rea?s Hannspree Ten Kate team-mate, Max Neukirchner, rode his Honda CBR1000RR in the wet for the first time today and was ninth fastest this morning. The 26-year-old German got more accustomed to the bike?s performance in the rain as he continued the familiarisation process.

?I had a lot of fun riding the bike in the wet for the first time this morning,? enthused Neukirchner, ?and I like the way it handles. It was a little more difficult this afternoon with wet and dry patches. But the forecast is for dry weather again tomorrow, so I?ll be looking to make some more steps forward.?

With Kenan Sofuoglu missing from the World Supersport test, the team?s Michele Pirro also tested his new machine for the first time in wet conditions. The 23-year-old Italian impressed the paddock by setting the fastest time on a drying track this afternoon, almost half a second quicker than yesterday?s fastest rider, Joan Lascorz.

WSBK Portimao test ? official times, day two
1 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?49.107s
2 Leon Haslam (GBR) Suzuki 1?49.392s
3 Troy Corser (AUS) BMW 1?49.606s
4 Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha 1?50.168s
5 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki1?43.378s
6 Noriyuki Haga (JPN) Ducati 1?51.167s
13 Max Neukirchner (GER) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?54.829s

WSS Portimao test ? official times, day two
1 Michele Pirro (ITA) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?47.168
2 Joan Lascorz (ESP) 1?47.527s
3 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Honda 1?47.602s
4 Miguel Praia (POR) Honda 48.200s
5 Chaz Davies (GBR) Triumph 1?48.239s
6 Katsuaki Fujiwara (JPN) 1?48.923s

 

[KUCIAR666]

Crutchlow and Toseland get a wet weather workout in Portimao

Day two of the first World Superbike test of 2010 saw wet sessions for Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland, with dry track only appearing towards the end of the day. Both riders took it easy and enjoyed the opportunity to familiarize themselves with how their bikes worked in the wet for the first time.

The second day saw more extensive testing of the electronic settings and also an opportunity to test the wet and intermediate Pirellis tyres for the season ahead. Cal was again one of the quickest riders of the day, finishing in the top five, whilst James took a more relaxed approach, not pushing too hard in the wet weather.

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (4th, 1?50.1)
?It wasn?t so bad today, it dried up in the end. It was a bit of a last minute thing to get a good time in. In the end we only had two laps on intermediate tyres. We got through some more electronics today but we still have some work to do on chassis and other electronics tomorrow.?


James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (15th, 1?55.4)
?It was one of those situations today, we had the last ten minutes getting to grips with intermediate tyres, I was getting up to speed as the last session ended. It?s a bit of a risk to get a good time in the wet on those tyres. It?s looking good for tomorrow though so we?re looking forward to some more dry time. Having said that it?s been good to get out on rain tyres and ride in the damp to experience how the bike behaved.?

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager
?Today was our first fully wet practice, the second practice started wet and slowly dried out. We worked a lot on the electronics adjustments with both riders. Last year we didn?t have so many wet practices so it has been very helpful today to gather data and information. We?ve had a full day to get a good wet strategy together, so we?re happy and looking forward to some more sunshine tomorrow.?

 

[KUCIAR666]

Rea sets new Portuguese standard

World Superbike test, Portimao ? 22-24 January 2010

Jonathan Rea emerged with the fastest overall time after the World Superbike three-day pre-season test concluded at Portimao in Portugal this afternoon.

After a total of 143 laps of the 4.592km circuit, the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider?s time of 1?42.470 ? set two minutes before the end of the final session ? beat the circuit best lap of 2009 World Superbike champion, Ben Spies, by two tenths of a second.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland was also fastest in this morning?s penultimate session, when he beat fellow Brit Leon Haslam by just 0.001s. Haslam was second fastest overall, with another Briton, Shane Byrne third.

Rea?s Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team mate, Max Neukirchner, was ninth fastest overall after finding an improved set-up on his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade just eight laps before the test concluded this afternoon.

Jonathan Rea - 143 laps, 1?42.270s

These three days have just been part of our preparation for the new season ? preparation that started almost as soon as last season finished. We were fast at Valencia in December but didn?t get the chance to put all our best settings together. We were able to do that here, and throw in a number of different tyres this afternoon. It was good to see P1 on the pit board for a lot of laps here and we know we have a good package to take to Australia now. We?ve got something that won?t be so hard on the tyres, which was a problem there last year. I?m feeling in great condition and feel that my focus and concentration have improved on last season. The bike itself is now just clicks away, rather than having to change lots of different things. We?re actually not that far away from when we first changed to Ohlins last June and now it?s all about fine-tuning.

Max Neukirchner - 166 laps, 1?43.471s

The first day here I really didn?t have a good feeling, and then yesterday it was wet. Although it was good to ride the bike in those conditions, it didn?t allow us to improve the feeling. Today we tried a setting similar to Johnny?s but our riding styles are quite different and I ended up having a small crash. Then we made a change to take the bike back towards where we were on the last day at the Valencia test ? we made the rear a little softer and the bike was completely different. The last eight laps I was really enjoying myself and I think we have a good base to work from now and we can make the bike better suited to my style of riding. Now I can look forward to Australia much more, because I love riding at Phillip Island ? it?s very fast and my kind of track!

Ronald ten Kate ? team manager

Well, the weather didn?t really help us stick to our testing plan, the main thrust of which was to narrow down our options before the start of the season so that both riders might have something they could call a base setting. However, I believe we?ve achieved a lot here and we are better prepared than we?ve ever been at the start of a season. Max is on schedule and, although he has some ground to make up, he is improving step-by-step. Jonathan has been quick in all conditions and the smile on his face and his apparent sheer joy of riding the bike, tells us more than megabytes of data from his bike!

World Superbike test, Portimao ? official combined times:
1 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?42.270s
2 Leon Haslam (GBR) Suzuki 1?42.557s
3 Shane Byrne (GBR) Ducati 1?42.877s
4 Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha 1?42.960s
5 Michel Fabrizio (ITA) Ducati 1?43.137s
6 James Toseland (GBR) Yamaha 1?43.157s
9 Max Neukirchner (GER) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?43.471s

Pirro impresses in Portugal

World Supersport test ? Portimao, 22-24 January 2010

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda?s new World Supersport signing, Michele Pirro, continued to impress this afternoon at Portimao in Portugal where he finished third fastest after a three-day pre-season test.

With team-mate and 2007 World Champion, Kenan Sofuoglu sitting out the test due to a fractured ankle, it was left to the 23-year-old Italian to undertake sole testing duties for the team at the 4.592km Portuguese circuit.

Over the three days of the test, Pirro has evaluated new electronics and suspension components for the Honda CBR600RR, as well as helping Pirelli to develop the latest generation of Supersport tyres.

Michele Pirro ? 96 laps, 1?45.587s

Since I first rode for the team last November, the bike has improved a lot and I have a much better feeling. Electronics, suspension and the engine have all improved and I?m very happy with the work we have done over these three days. Unfortunately, the weather has not been so good and the track has been wet a lot of the time, so I was not able to push as hard as I wanted. It has been an important test though, and it confirmed to me that we can compete for the top positions when the season begins next month. I would like to thank the team for all the hard work they have done to help me. My confidence is building all the time and I believe we can hope for a good result at the first race in Australia.

Kenan Sofuoglu

I tried sitting on the bike on Thursday evening and on Friday morning with some careful strapping and a special boot. I knew it would be difficult, but we had to try and unfortunately it was not possible for me to ride here at Portimao. If I had damaged my ankle further I would have missed the first race for sure. It?s much better for the championship and for my body to be fit for Phillip Island. It certainly hasn?t been easy to watch everybody else here but this time it has been better for me than riding. I will go home now and keep my leg in plaster for another 10 days and keep cycling to stay as fit as possible. It will be difficult in Australia after more than two months without riding the bike, but Michele and the crew have been working hard here and we made a good test in Valencia in December. Michele has been doing a great job and certainly put his name in the picture for the season ahead. But I?m very confident in myself and the CBR600RR and cannot wait for the first race.

Ronald ten Kate ? team manager

After consulting with the doctors at the Clinica Mobile, we took the decision for Kenan not to ride here. It?s always a pity to miss out on a testing opportunity but he has been fast in our other two winter tests and he?ll be fully fit again for Phillip Island. Michele has done a great job here ? he?s consistently improving himself and working better all the time with his crew. I believe there is a lot more to come and at least he won?t be an unexpected surprise at the beginning of the season.

World Supersport test, Portimao ? combined times:
1 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Honda 1?45.104s
2 Joan Lascorz (ESP) Kawasaki1?45.292s
3 Michele Pirro (ITA) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 1?45.587
4 Miguel Praia (POR) Honda 45.834s
5 Katsuaki Fujiwara (JPN) Kawasaki 1?45.988s
6 Chaz Davies (GBR) Triumph 1?46.610s

 

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Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team finish up the final day at Portimao

Riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland completed their final day of testing today at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. The two British riders have worked hard over the three days, experiencing a variety of weather conditions from dry to wet to intermediate as they and the team worked through various electronic and bike set ups ahead of the 2010 season.

The final session saw Cal fall victim to the drastically reduced grip of the track following yesterday?s rain. Fifty minutes from the end he lost the front of the bike on the slippery surface on the last corner before the home straight. In typical form he was back on his spare bike shortly afterwards for the remainder of the session. Team-mate James was consistently fast all day, ending the last test day just outside the top five in sixth position.

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (4th, 1?42.9)
?it was frustrating to fall today, the track so was so slippery it was unavoidable, but it cost me some time on the track. Having said that we?ve had a really good test, we?ve worked through a lot of things and I think we?ve got closer to a good set-up for the first race. I?m really keen to get to Australia and start the next test before we kick-off racing.?

James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (6th, 1?43.1)
?I?m really pleased overall. We?ve worked through a lot of stuff over the last three days and I feel I?ve got a lot more understanding of the bike. The team has worked really well and I?m pleased we?ve managed to keep consistent fast pace over the test. I think there?s more to come so I?m looking forward to getting started again!?

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager
?Unfortunately the grip level was much less than Friday, so until the soft tyres went on the lap times were not as fast as when we started the test. All the riders struggled to find good grip, so the problem was with the track, not the riders. Cal lost some time after his fall, he switched bikes but had no experience on the tyre on the second bike so couldn?t push so hard. James rode really well today, he is always consistent and was definitely fast enough for the conditions out there. Overall we go to Australia feeling confident and with a good spirit. We?ve had a really successful test, we?ve got some great feedback and have made a good start to 2010.?

 

[TWO SOX]

WSB news

Cheers and thanks for goin to the trouble of posting all that excellent imfo.Really looking foward to the season and it wont long be coming around now.

 

[Gerrard]

Some of the Brits are doing well....p0pc0rn41

 

[Oldbull]

Looking forward to it as well, wont be long before the first one, 26th feb I think..
I have a feeling in my water that Max Neukirchner is going to be a dark horse for the title...

you read it here first :yo::yo:




p0pc0rn41

 

[Gerrard]

I think this years WSB could become a classic...I can think of at least six riders that could win it...

 

[Gerrard]

More thoughts on this subject later...Going to sort me new bike out today...:-0)