Sykes quickest in first day of official testing at Portimao
Guintoli not far from the points leader, Melandri crashes with no major injury.
The first day of the World Superbike Official DWO Test was held under blue skies and warm temperatures at Portimao’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. The WSBK teams and riders who showed up at the Portuguese venue had plenty of time to focus on the development of their bikes ahead of the summer break. After the first two hours, which saw only four riders lapping the 4,592m challenging track, the action intensified in the five hour second session, with Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) clocking in 1’43.128s to claim the quickest lap-time of the day.
The reigning champion proved once again his determination and commitment by being the most active rider today with 70 laps completed. Second fastest Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) finished within only 0.151 seconds of the leader, whilst Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) was third fastest despite the 0.8s gap from the top.
New father Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) escaped with no fractures a high-speed crash he had in the afternoon, that brought to an early end his first day of testing due also to the significant damage sustained by his Aprilia RSV4 Factory. KRT’s David Salom was the fastest EVO rider today by lapping in 1'45.048s.
Claudio Corti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was declared fit by the circuit medical officer and was able to make his return to action after the injury sustained on this very track last month, during the eighth round of the season.
The second day of official testing at Portimao will get underway tomorrow at 9am local time.
Official DWO Test, Monday - Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimao
1 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'43.128
2 Guintoli S. (FRA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'43.279
3 Giugliano D. (ITA) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1'43.963
4 Melandri M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'44.288
5 Baz L. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'44.587
6 Davies C. (GBR) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1'44.737
7 Corti C. (ITA) MV Agusta F4 RR 1'45.032
8 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1'45.048
9 Andreozzi A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1'45.400
10 Guarnoni J. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1'45.793
