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Journalists try out latest WSB machinery

One of the largest, and most complex, media bike tests ever organized in the motorcycling sector took place last Monday at the Portimao circuit on the day after the final round of the 2009 Superbike World Championship, as well over 30 journalists got their hands on the very latest factory Superbike and Supersport machinery.

The seven official WSB teams, who had just concluded the season at Portimao the day before, kindly made their bikes available in the Infront Motor Sports-organized one-day test session for test-riders from many of the world's leading publications, offering them a fantastic opportunity to ride and dissect the sophisticated Superbike and Supersport bikes in all of their glorious detail.

17 bikes were lined up in the early morning for the lucky journalists in front of the Aprilia Racing, BMW Motorrad, Ducati Xerox, Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, Kawasaki WSRT, Suzuki Alstare, Yamaha World Superbike (SBK), Yamaha World Supersport and Parkalgar Honda (Supersport) pit garages.

38 testers from 16 different countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, UK and USA) took part in the tests, together with representatives from 3 TV stations.

The testers included four World Champions (Wayne Gardner, Alessandro Gramigni, Mario Lega and Honda guest, Enduro's Mika Ahola) together with numerous other race winners in various categories (Dario Marchetti, Jamie Whitham and Kenny Noyes) and other familiar names from the past and present (Mauro Sanchini, Yatsushiro Shunji), all representing the most important daily, weekly and monthly publications and websites.

With a total of well over 500 shifts on track of 3 or 4 laps each, a good time was had by all, and only one ‘incident' was recorded throughout the day!

Read about their impressions in a magazine near you!