Rea back on top at Phillip Island WSBK test after Day 2
World champion, Jonathan Rea, has completed the final WorldSBK pre-season test at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit with the fastest time, ahead of the opening Yamaha Finance round of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship starting this Friday.
Report: IRPR, Images: Graeme Brown.
After completing day one in third position, Rea shot his Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10RR straight to the top today, with his best lap 1m30.598 across the two-day eight-hour shakedown. Rea, the three-times world champion, said windy conditions over the test had made development a little challenging, with his team focused on sorting a new Pirelli rear tyre, produced for 2018.
Rea’s form is a warning to his rivals that despite a rev limit handicap on his Kawasaki in 2018, designed to produce closer racing in the production-based series, the new world champion is ready to kick-start where he left off an all-conquering 2017. Last year, he took the double at the Phillip Island opener – a circuit he now considers his home track.
Italian Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing Ducati, 1:30.726) was second fastest overall in the 22-rider gathering, ahead of Rea’s teammate Tom Sykes (1:30.804), Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia, 1:31.074) and privateer Xavi Fores (Barni Ducati, 1:31.076).
Next in line were Pata Yamaha teamsters Michael van der Mark (1:31.131) and Alex Lowes (1:31.370), followed by Leon Camier (1:31.537) on his Red Bull Honda.
Rea, van der Mark and Fores all crashed on day two, but escaped with injury.
World No.2 Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) had a low-key build-up to round one, finishing the test in 11th position.
The Australian wild cards were all on the improve today, with Honda’s Troy Herfoss the best Aussie performer – 16th fastest with a 1:32.297s. Twice Australian superbike champion, veteran Wayne Maxwell was 19th fastest overall on his Yamaha with a 1:32.651 s best time; while new team mate, young Adelaide rider Daniel Falzon put his Yamaha 21st on the test time sheets with a two day best of 1:32.828s.
Any fine-tuning for the WorldSBK brigade will now have to take place when practice begins on Friday, ahead of the two races at 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
World Supersport: Randy goes to the top
Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher (Evan Bros Yamaha), returning to WorldSSP after a year in WorldSBK, concluded the two-day test on top after a best lap of 1:33.499. He was followed by world champion Lucas Mahias (1:33.547) and Federico Caricasulo (1:33.643) on the factory Yamahas, and then former Moto3 world champion Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing Yamaha, 1:33.871).
The biggest news from a local perspective was the sizzling form of Ant West (Antwest EAB Kawasaki, 1:34.038), who was fifth, just in front of Briton Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Yamaha, 1:34.074).
West has finished third in the last two WorldSSP races at Phillip Island and, based on his brilliant form on his new Kawasaki, will fancy going all the way in 2018.
West’s countrymen Tom Toparis (Cube Racing Kawasaki), Lachlan Epis (GoEleven Kawasaki) and Aiden Wagner (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) were 17th, 23rd and 24th at the test, although the latter will not race as he continues to recover from a knee reconstruction.
The 18-lap WorldSSP race to start the season will be held at 1:20pm this Sunday.
World Superbike Phillip Island Test Best Times in Testing
- Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki (1) 1m30.598s
- Marco Melandri – Ducati (33) 1m30.726s
- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki (66) 1m30.804s
- Eugene Laverty – Aprilia (50) 1m31.074s
- Xavi Fores – Ducati (12) 1m31.076s
- Michael Van der Mark Yamaha (60) 1m31.131s
- Alex Lowes – Yamaha (22) 1m 31.37s
- Leon Camier – Honda (2) 1m 31.537
- Loris Baz – BMW (76) 1m31.542s
- Lorenzo Savadori – Aprilia (32) 1m 31.579s
…16. Troy Herfoss Honda (17) 1m32.297s
…19. Wayne Maxwell Yamaha (47) 1m 32.651s
…21. Daniel Falzon Yamaha (25) 1m32.828s
HUGE WSBK WEEKEND AHEAD FOR FANS!
The opening round of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship Yamaha Finance round will feature the 22-lap WorldSBK races on Saturday and Sunday, the 18-lap WorldSSP race on Sunday, and 12 national support races during the weekend across superbike, supersport, supersport 300 and YMF R3 Cup. Aussie WorldSBK icon Troy Bayliss will make his racing comeback in superbike.
Ticketing and camping
A three-day pass for WorldSBK at the island, purchased in advance through Ticketek, is $120* and includes FREE Paddock Access. Add camping at the circuit campground for up to four nights, and you’ve the perfect location for a summer long weekend away with your mates or family.
As always with World Superbikes, kids 15 and under are free^, as is your bike.
Advance ticket sales close Wednesday February 21 at 4:00pm. Buy early and save or get your tickets at the gatefrom 8am Friday, Saturday and Sunday of race weekend (Feb 23-25).
For more information, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or 1300 728 007 or Ticketek.