Yukio Kagayama has proved that the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 is definitely up to challenging for the World Superbike title by taking the fastest time at the final pre-season test in Qatar.
Kagayama took advantage of the fact that he is the only WSB rider to have ridden the Middle-Eastern circuit by clocking the fastest time of the two-day test with a best lap of 2:01.480.
Kagayama:s Suzuki team-mate Troy Corser took the second fastest time despite catching the flu that had dogged Ten Kate Honda riders Chris Vermeulen and Karl Muggeridge.
Third spot went to reigning Spanish Formula Extreme champion Jose Luis Cardosa. The DFX Yamaha rider surprised the paddock by taking the fastest time on the first day of the test and was only beaten in to the third spot on the final day by just over .3 of a second.
Last year’s championship runner up Regis Laconi managed to crawl up the time sheets to take the fourth fastest time but his team-mate and current World champion James Toseland had a fast high-side and only managed to finish in 10th place. After the fall Toseland was immediately rushed to the medical centre for a checkup but was lucky to escape without any serious injury.
The first race of the season takes place in Qatar next Saturday.
Official times:
Kagayama 2:01.480
Corser 2:01.554
Cardoso 2:01.797
Laconi 2:01.827
Gimbert 2:01.956
Silva Alberola 2:02.194
Walker 2:02.442
Borciani 2:02.548
Haga 2:02.591
Toseland 2:02.639
Abe 2:02.652
Pitt 2:02.713
Lanzi 2:02.923
Chili 2:03.008
Vermeulen 2:03.072
Vizziello 2:03.095
Muggeridge 2:03.391
Sanchini 2:03.398
Bussei 2:03.602
Nieto 2:03.659
Neukirchner 2:03.874
Pedercini 2:04.048
Bostrom 2:04.285
Martin 2:04.483
Velini 2:04.864
Clementi 2:05.047
McCoy 2:05.455
Praia 2:05.472
Al Nuami 2:10.263