Phillip Island WSB: Spies sets pace in opening free practice

Published: 27 February 2009 Updated: 24 November 2014

Ben Spies set the fastest time in free practice

1 of 1

American Ben Spies started the 2009 season as he means to go on by setting the fastest lap time in the opening free practice session this morning at Phillip Island.

The Yamaha World Superbike rider set a 1m 32.752s lap to finish ahead of Alstare Suzuki man Max Neukirchner, who was the only other man to lap in the 1m 32’s.

Britain’s Leon Haslam impressed by running at the front throughout the entire session to claim third ahead of Yukio Kagayama and a resurgent Regis Laconi onboard the DFX Corser Ducati.

Jonathan Rea had to overcome technical problems on both bikes to end the opening hour long session in 12th, 0.943s off he pace of Spies. Tom Sykes was 13th with Tommy Hill in 15th.

Sterilgarda Ducati rider Shane Byrne spent his first session reacquainting himself with the fast Australian track to end the session in 18th place sandwiched between Max Biaggi in 17th and Carlos Checa in 19th.

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’32.752
2 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’32.813
3 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.015
4 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’33.077
5 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098 RS 09 1’33.140
6 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’33.239
7 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 1’33.280
8 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’33.371
9 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.433
10 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’33.496
11 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.508
12 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.695
13 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’33.747
14 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’33.835
15 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.845
16 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’33.901
17 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1’33.909
18 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’33.991
19 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.012
20 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’34.201
21 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’34.780
22 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’35.851
23 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1’36.222
24 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.762
25 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’36.853
26 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’37.716
27 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’37.866
28 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’38.676

By Michael Guy

Sports Editor - If you’re looking for sport insight that’s got its finger firmly on the pulse and gets to the very heart of the action with the fattest contacts book in bike sport (rather than simply relying on watching TV coverage and hoovering up what other people are saying on social media) – then Michael is your, erm, ‘guy’. An integral part of MCN’s in-depth sport coverage for over twenty years, Michael has been a fixture in every major bike sport paddock, and a few minor ones, too. He has spent a significant portion of his life living in the World Superbike global travelling circus, inside the British Superbike paddocks all around the UK, as well as traipsing the corridors of power within MotoGP and regularly making the Isle of Man a working destination for the legendary TT. Not only is he the consummate racing aficionado and journalist, but he’s also appeared on numerous podcasts, has delivered live race commentary from the booth, and has competed in trials, enduro, rally and track racing to a high level (with plenty of trophies and scars to show for his efforts, too). I you want to be in the know, Michael and the MCN sport team will get you close enough to the biggest stories in racing to be able to tell if they brushed their teeth this morning.

Ben Spies set the fastest time in free practice