Official Phillip Island test schedule announced

The massed ranks of WSB and WSS riders will get the first chance to face absolutely all of their rivals during the first official test sessions of the 2015 season, which will be held just a few days before the opening race of the year at the iconic Phillip Island circuit in Australia.

More than any other test sessions in recent memory these official outings will be important for the teams and manufacturers, all of whom have had to deal with significant reductions in engine tuning specs for this season.

Although there will be tests in Jerez at the end of January that will give a good picture of who has made the best of their winter break – because most of the top teams will be in attendance – the official tests at PI will sort out who is truly ready to score heavily at the first round on Sunday 22 February. 

Official tests always bring out the best from teams and riders, as there is nowhere to hide after the transponders are fitted to every single bike and it is always full pace all round as real racing and points scoring will be taking place on the self-same track only a few days after.

On Monday 16th February the action gets underway for the WSS teams, with the first 110-minute session for all regulars and any wildcards. The WSB riders will then be next up with a two-hour session, starting at 11.30am. This pattern repeats in the afternoon but on the second day it will be the Superbikes to take to the track first of all. 

The full schedule of testing is as below. All times are local to the state of Victoria, which is currently 11 hours ahead of the UK. The final race weekend schedule has not yet been released by Dorna and the FIM, but should be out in a few days.

Monday – February 16, 2015
09.10 – 11.00 110 minutes WSS Free Practice
11.10 – 13.10 120 minutes WSBK Free Practice
13.40 – 15.30 110 minutes WSS Free Practice
15.40 – 17.40 120 minutes WSBK Free Practice 

Tuesday – February 17, 2015
09.10 – 11.10 120 minutes WSBK Free Practice
11.20 – 13.00 110 minutes WSS Free Practice
13.30 – 15.30 120 minutes WSBK Free Practice
15.40 – 17.40 110 minutes WSS Free Practice