News

The top three Superstock 1000 challengers dominated the day's action in a one-day test at the revised Imola circuit today. After almost seven hours of track time, the quickest was Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Claudio Corti, but he was knocked off the top slot with twenty minutes to go by Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Honda). The Italian then went out again to take the new track record in 1 minute 52.672 seconds. Third place went to the other title contender Xavier Simeon (Ducati Xerox), the Belgian not being in the best of physical condition.

Fourth place went to Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Yamaha) ahead of another Italian, Davide Giugliano (Suzuki Celani), the ex-MV Agusta man finally getting to grips with a fully competitive machine. Ayrton Badovini was brought into the Aprilia Junior team to help speed up the development of the RSV4, and the former SBK rider did the job well, ending the tests in seventh place.

The 600 category, whose riders shared the track with the Superstock 1000 competitors, was totally dominated by Yamaha Trasimeno. Best time of 1 minute 55.982 seconds went to Danilo Petrucci in 1'55"982, more than a second and a half quicker than team-mate Marco Bussolotti. Eddy La Marra (Honda Lorini) was third.

Tomorrow and Thursday will see the Superbike and Supersport riders out on track for nine and six hours of testing respectively over the next two days.