Suzukis top WSB test

The Suzukis of AMA champion Mat Mladin and WSB champion Troy Corser have dominated a four day World Superbike test at Phillip Island in Australia.

Yoshimura factory rider Mladin toppped the timesheets with an unofficial lap of 1:32.2 on race Dunlop tyres, with Corser using WSB-spec Pirellis to smash his best test time from 2005 with a lap of 1:32.79. He also managed to beat his 2005 race time in a full-race simulation.

The two Australians were almost a second quicker than fellow countryman Steve Martin, who recorded the third quickest time on the Foggy Petronas. Yukio Kagayama was fourth quickest on the second Alstare Suzuki, completing his race simulation on the final day in extremely windy conditions.

“The 2006 bike feels better than last year’s bike already and although there are no major changes, a lot of things are working better,” said Corser. “The engine feels better both in mid-range and top-end, and the electronics are working better as well. I can easily adjust more things on the bike. I’m also pleased with the progress Pirelli have made. I’m very happy and I feel ready to race this bike tomorrow!”

The Yamaha Ipone team of Norick Abe and Sebastien Gimbert went fifth and sixth fastest, but decided to end the test one day early. New rider Shinichi Nakatomi recorded a time of 1:35.1, just behind Abe and Gimbert.

Britain’s Craig Jones was at the test on the second of the Foggy Petronas machines, and managed a creditable time of 1:35.6.

Unofficial times:

Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki on Dunlops) 1:32.2.

Corser (Suzuki) 1:32.79.

Martin (Petronas) 1:33.40.

Kagayama (Suzuki) 1:33.5.

Abe (Yamaha) 1:34.5.

Gimbert (Yamaha) 1:34.6.

Nakatomi (Yamaha) 1:35.1.

Jones (Petronas) 1:35.6.

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