Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes topped both morning and afternoon sessions in today’s Misano World Superbike test and was half a second off his pole lap from Saturday using race tyres and a tenth inside Jonathan Rea’s lap record from last year.
Sykes put in a total of 76 laps at the Italian circuit with a best of 1’34.674 while team-mate Rea was just a tenth further back on a 1’34.777 with Ducati’s Davide Giugliano in third and two-tenths off the pace.
The Italian put in 44 laps. mostly on new tyres that Pirelli brought to the track, as both he and team-mate Chaz Davies tested previous to the race weekend.
“It’s always interesting to test, especially when you get a chance to explore different solutions from those utilized during the race. Pirelli brought several new options, for both the front and rear, and we gathered interesting data for the development. We’ve made another step forward and now we’ll go to Laguna Seca, a track that I don’t love after last year’s injury, to cancel the bad memories and fight at the top,” he said.
Leon Camier put in another heroic performance on the MV Agusta to claim fourth with a 1’35.336 while Althea BMW’s Jordi Torres bagged fifth place, one ahead of Chaz Davies, who ended on a 1’35.385 but suffered a crash in the final minutes.
“Today we tried a different configuration compared with the race. We focused mostly on the front, where we still have some options to explore, and on the engine, where there’s still room for improvement,” said the Welshman.
“The new solutions brought by Pirelli gave a good feedback and, most important, my right wrist didn’t bother me too much and I managed to ride without too many difficulties. We’re confident we can head overseas in full shape and bounce back in Laguna Seca.”
Michael Van Der Mark put his Honda seventh place, just in front of Alex Lowes’ Pata Yamaha on a 1’35.468. Lorenzo Savadori ended in ninth with Nicky Hayden rounding out the top ten.
Markus Reiterberger did not test as a crash yesterday saw him injure his T12 vertebrae. Althea BMW’s Raffaele De Rosa stood in for the German, and will race at Laguna Seca as a stand-in, posting a 1’36.883 to end just behind Nico Canepa.
“I’m pleased with how we’ve worked today. I’ve got over what happened yesterday and think we worked effectively here. I rode the Superbike in order to gain confidence and be better prepared for Laguna,” said De Rosa.
“I’m glad to have the opportunity to race in America, but I’m really sorry for Markus and hope he’s back very soon. I’ve never been to Laguna but know it’s a spectacular track, the experience can only do me good. I thank Genesio for giving me this chance.”
Milwaukee BMW’s Josh Brookes found more than half a second over his best race lap to finish in 13th on a 1’36.042 after a whopping 96 laps.
