Biaggi Best At Superbike Test
Cycle News Staff | December 10, 2009
Aprilia’s Max Biaggi jumped to the top of the time sheets in today’s final day of World Superbike testing at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain as all those in attendance slashed time from their previous bests.Second yesterday behind Alstare Suzuki’s Leon Haslam, Biaggi leapt to the front today with his 1:33.8 – 1.7 seconds faster than Haslam went yesterday. The Italian was the only rider to crack the 1:34 barrier, though Haslam was right on that mark with his 1:34.0 – 1.5 seconds faster than yesterday. Ben Spies qualified on pole for April’s World Superbike round at Valencia with a lap of 1:33.2.Third fastest today was Sterilgarda Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow, the Brit moving ahead of his countryman and teammate James Toseland. Crutclow lapped at a best of 1:34.1 with Toseland, third yesterday, dropping back to fifth today with his 1:34.3.”Today was even better than the first day, we worked through a lot more settings in the sessions,” Crutchlow said in a release from his team. “I’m disappointed with my final time though as I think I could have been fastest at the end of the day, but I didn’t get a chance to use the fastest tire. I’m happy enough with my overall pace and consistency. We’ve still more to do so I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike in January and keeping up the development.”Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Jonathan Rea split the two Yamahas with his 1:34.2.Rea’s teammate Max Neukirchner was sixth best at 1:34.7, ahead of Alstare Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli and Aprilia’s Leon Camier.The factory Ducati team of Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio did not take part in the two-day test.
Times
1. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 1.33.8
2. Leon .Haslam (Suzuki) 1.34.0
3. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1.34.1
4. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1.34.2
5. James Toseland (Yamaha) 1.34.3
6. Max Neukirchner (Honda) 1.34.7
7. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki) 1.35.0
8. Leon Camier (Aprilia) 1.35.2.
