WSB test Imola: Fabrizio takes control at top of day one standings

Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio went head to head with Yamaha man Ben Spies in the final minutes of the 2 hour 20 minutes test session at Imola to secure his place at the top of the day one standings.

After swapping places with Spies, Fabrizio told MCN:
“We spent today playing with the settings on the bike so that we can concentrate on tyre testing tomorrow. I set my fastest time on a new tyre, but there is still more even newer options to test.
“It’s good to be fast but it was not just one fast lap today. The majority has been spent working on a race set-up for when we come here in September.”

Ben Spies worked on the set-up of a new electronics upgrade along with chassis and geometry changes to secure second position ahead of an impressive Jonathan Rea.

Rea spent the first session aquainting himself with the circuit before intrioducing a significant suspension and ride height change mid way through the second stint. At the end of the day the Ten Kate man had logged a massive 77 laps to secure third place.
He said:
“It’s  been a good day and I’m having fun. We’ve lifted the bike up to help it turn and that it literally the only change we’ve done.

Ruben Xaus was a surprise of the day securing fourth place ahead of fellow Spaniard Carlos Checain fifth.
Shane Byrne dropped from third this morning to sixth, but was satisfied as unlike his rivals he has no new tyres or parts to test on his Sterilgarda Ducati.

1 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’50.686 1’49.164 1’49.164
2 19 B. SPIES USA Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’51.005 1’49.262 1’49.262
3 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.166 1’49.684 1’49.684
4 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’52.714 1’49.823 1’49.823
5 7 C. CHECA ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’50.342 1’49.842 1’49.842
6 67 S. BYRNE GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1’50.813 1’50.305 1’50.305
7 66 T. SYKES GBR Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’52.084 1’50.402 1’50.402
8 91 L. HASLAM GBR Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.379 1’50.586 1’50.586
9 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’51.389 1’50.797 1’50.797
10 71 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’51.142 1’50.861 1’50.861
11 9 R. KIYONARI JPN Ten Kate Honda Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.905 1’50.868 1’50.868
12 56 S. NAKANO JPN Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’52.578 1’51.055 1’51.055
13 121 J. HOPKINS USA Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.193 1’51.270 1’51.270
14 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’52.021 1’51.276 1’51.276
15 14 M. LAGRIVE FRA Honda Althea Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.983 1’51.339 1’51.339
16 53 A. POLITA ITA Celani Race Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’52.729 1’51.683 1’51.683
17 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’52.125 1’51.738 1’51.738
18 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’51.746 1’52.636 1’51.746
19 10 F. NIETO ESP DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’53.281 1’51.909 1’51.909
20 100 M. TAMADA JPN Kawasaki World Superbike R.T.Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’54.040 1’52.008 1’52.008
21 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki World Superbike R.T.Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’52.743 1’52.482 1’52.482
22 77 V. IANNUZZO ITA Squadra Corse Italia Honda CBR1000RR 1’54.514 1’53.535 1’53.535