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Jerez WSBK test: Rea ends on top despite crash

Reigning WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea came back from a crash and trip to the medical centre to top the timesheets on the last day of testing at Jerez.

The works Kawasaki man went down at turn three and went to see medics as a precaution but came back out on track using his spare bike and set a 1’39.809 to edge out Milwaukee Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori with his 34th lap of 41. The Italian had taken top spot with a 1’39.120 but Rea was able to find a tenth and take the laurels even though Savadori was thought to be testing a new qualifying tyre for Pirelli.

“It is nice to set such a good lap time at this time of the year but it is testing and I have never been the best guy for one lap. We have been able to make many fast laps in these winter tests, however, and we have found a bike set-up that has been working well,” said Rea.

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“The grip level at this test was a little bit lower than in November but we have been able to find consistency as well. With the different character on the track we have been able to evaluate different rear shocks. Showa have been working so hard and I am really impressed.

“I felt my own ‘bike fitness’ was not great as I have been off the race bike for so many weeks now. I am looking forward to the next test to try and do a lot of laps. I need some more mileage to feel like I did during the season last year.”

Kawasaki’s team-mate Tom Sykes also had to come back from a spill after he went down on the exit of the last corner. The Huddersfield rider was unhurt and sey a 1’40.219 to end four-tenths behind Rea.

Veteran Marco Melandri bagged fourth place and the Aruba Ducati bragging rights as he outpaced team-mate Chaz Davies by just over a tenth of a second. Nicky Hayden set a 1’40.548 on the far-from-ready 2017 Fireblade to take sixth with Alex Lowes the fastest of the Yamahas in seventh and eight-tenths off the pace.

Xavi Fores, Mixhael Van Der Mark and Randy Krummenacher completed the top ten. Eugene Laverty got tangled up with Jordi Torres which resulted in the Spaniard also going to the med centre and coming out with a shoulder injury. The Irishman finished the day in 13th on a 1’41.886, one place behind Markus Reiterberger.

MCE British Superbike men Leon Haslam and Luke Mossey, on their JG Speedfit Kawasakis, were two and two and a half seconds off the pace respectively.

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