WSB Test Imola: Rea on top after blitzing final session

Jonathan Rea finished the two day official Superbike test at the top of the leader board after overhauling the previously dominant Michel Fabrizio in the final minutes off the test. Rea completed a massive 137 laps during the two days and looked comfortable and confident onboard his Ohlins shod Ten Kate Honda.

With only minimal changes to the set-up during the eight hours of track time, Rea ran in the top five in every session and has shown that he will be a force to be reckoned with at round ten of the championship at Brno next weekend.
He said:
“The balance and the way the bike is working is good. When we arrived we had loads to test, different spec suspension, links etc, but we haven’t needed to do anything. I’ve been top five in every sector over the two days so I think we deserve this result.”

Michel Fabrizio was bitterly disappointed not to hold on to top spot but can take some satisfaction from his impressive two day performance as the lone Xerox Ducati rider.

American Ben Spies spent the two days flat out testing new components to claim third with Lorenzo Lanzi onboard the DFX Ducati the surprise package in fourth.
Tom Sykes showed impressive pace and consistency to take fifth, with the Yamaha man clearly more comfortable on his factory R1.

John Hopkins rode through the pain barrier for sixth despite having to sit out of the final session due to the extreme pain from his broken left femur.

Ruben Xaus put aside an engine blow up on his BMW to secure a confidence boosting seventh with Leon Haslam eight and Shane Byrne in ninth.

Combined times

1 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate HoHnodnada CBR1000RR 1’51.166 1’49.684 1’49.313 1’48.670 1’48.670 137
2 84 M.FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’50.686 1’49.164 1’48.937 1’48.847 1’48.847 110
3 19 B. SPIES USA Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’51.005 1’49.262 1’49.392 1’49.886 1’49.262 124
4 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’51.389 1’50.797 1’49.309 1’50.695 1’49.309 96
5 66 T. SYKES GBR Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’52.084 1’50.402 1’49.422 1’50.349 1’49.422 102
6 121 J. HOPKINS USA Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’52.193 1’51.270 1’49.443 1’49.443 84
7 111 R.XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad MotorspoBrMt W S1000 RR 1’52.714 1’49.823 1’49.467 1’50.993 1’49.467 88
8 91 L. HASLAM GBR Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.379 1’50.586 1’49.555 1’49.853 1’49.555 114
9 67 S. BYRNE GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1’50.813 1’50.305 1’49.577 1’49.577 78
10 56 S. NAKANO JPN Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’52.578 1’51.055 1’49.645 1’51.318 1’49.645 101
11 7 C.CHECA ESP HANNspree Ten Kate HoHnodnada CBR1000RR 1’50.342 1’49.842 1’49.816 1’49.736 1’49.736 139
12 9 R.KIYONARI JPN Ten Kate Honda RacingHonda CBR1000RR 1’52.905 1’50.868 1’50.577 1’50.226 1’50.226 107
13 14 M.LAGRIVE FRA Honda Althea Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.983 1’51.339 1’50.265 1’51.425 1’50.265 100
14 3 M.BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’52.125 1’51.738 1’50.372 1’50.310 1’50.310 95
15 100 M.TAMADA JPN Kawasaki World SuperbiKkaew Ra.sTa. ki ZX 10R 1’54.040 1’52.008 1’50.593 1’50.414 1’50.414 111
16 10 F. NIETO ESP DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’53.281 1’51.909 1’50.423 1’53.113 1’50.423 92
17 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad MotorspoBrMt W S1000 RR 1’51.746 1’52.636 1’50.486 1’51.771 1’50.486 74
18 71 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K 9 1’51.142 1’50.861 1’51.071 1’50.518 1’50.518 102
19 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki World SuperbiKkaew Ra.sTa. ki ZX 10R 1’52.743 1’52.482 1’50.583 1’50.983 1’50.583 93
20 53 A. POLITA ITA Celani Race Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K 9 1’52.729 1’51.683 1’50.743 1’52.282 1’50.743 103
21 76 M.NEUKIRCHNER GER Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K 9 1’52.021 1’51.276 1’51.077 1’51.077 81
22 77 V. IANNUZZO ITA Squadra Corse Italia Honda CBR1000RR 1’54.514 1’53.535 1’52.967 1’52.547 1’52.547 88