Portimao WSB: Strong start for Brits in Free Practice

British riders Cal Crutchlow, Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea and Chris Walker made an impressive start to the final round of the WSB championship in Portugal by all securing a place in the top seven after the opening wet free practice session.

HM Plant Honda riders Crutchlow and Haslam benefited from their successful two day test at the track to secure second and third place respectively with Rea making a stunning Superbike debut in fourth.

Chris Walker proved his credentials to post the seventh fastest time one place behind the on form Australian, Troy Corser.

Newly crowned world champion Troy Bayliss started his weekend in the perfect way to set the fastest lap, but like his team-mate Michel Fabrizio (fifth) and the two HM Plant Honda riders he got to test at the track two weeks ago.

1 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’59.492
2 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR HM Plant Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’59.813
3 91 L. HASLAM GBR HM Plant Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’59.958
4 65 J. REA GBR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 2’00.145
5 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 2’00.245
6 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 2’00.313
7 9 C. WALKER GBR Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.153
8 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’01.454
9 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.918
10 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’02.057
11 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’02.119
12 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’02.426
13 36 G. LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’02.846
14 86 A. BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’02.998
15 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’03.434
16 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 2’03.827
17 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’04.066
18 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 2’04.094
19 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’04.100
20 44 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 2’04.250
21 41 N. HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 2’04.353
22 100 M.TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’04.766
23 88 S. AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 2’04.976
24 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’05.349
25 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 2’05.493
26 14 L. CARREIRA POR Benimoto Suzuki Cetelem Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 2’05.651
27 18 T. BRIDEWELL GBR Team NB Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 2’06.389
28 13 V. IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’06.753
29 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 2’06.890
30 99 L. SCASSA ITA D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 2’08.508
31 73 C. ZAISER AUT Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 2’08.813