Superbike, Aragon test: Tom Sykes finishes on top

-After an exciting and demanding Pirelli Aragon Round, the drivers of the World Series Championship took to the track again today at the Aragon Motorland for a day of official testing in which they had the opportunity to address the problems encountered in the three rounds of opening of the season.

At Kawasaki, both riders suffered some health problems but faced the whole day without problems aboard their ZX-10RR: Tom Sykes achieved the best overall time in 1'49.386, ahead of teammate Jonathan Rea for just 20 thousandths.

Having quickly forgotten yesterday's victory in Race 2, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) immediately concentrated on the many components to test: he and Marco Melandri worked on the electronics, the set-up and the chassis.
During the morning, however, unfortunately the Italian rider lost control of his Ducati in turn 2 and fell violently to the ground: he was promptly transported to the track's medical centre, fortunately the accident was resolved with a small muscle tear in his neck.
Melandri will have to wear the collar for a few days and rest: having finished the tests early, he therefore left Davies the task of continuing the work, completing almost 100 laps and finishing the day in third position overall.

Alex Lowes (official Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) finished in sixth position and concentrated mainly on the gear changes and chassis of his YZF-R1, together with Michael van der Mark, who stopped the clock on 1.50.074, worked on electronics and suspension issues.

Eugene Laverty was the only rider from the Milwaukee Aprilia team to take to the track to work on the improvements to be made to the RSV4 RF: the Irishman managed to enter the top five thanks to a time of 1'50.306.

The Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team still has a lot of work to do on the new CBR and focused the day of testing on the rear tire and anti-wheelie control: both Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl finished in the top 10, the German seventh with 1.50.886 .XNUMX and the American ninth.

Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) worked on various chassis solutions and on the development of the electronics: for him a good eighth final time while Markus Reiterberger finished sixteenth.

A lot of work was also done by Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who completed 73 laps and set his best time in 1'51.047.

We will see the protagonists again on track in Assen, from 28 to 30 April.

Below are the times recorded at the end of the day of official testing:

1. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 49.368s
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 49.388s
3. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 49.536s
4. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 50.074s
5. Eugene Laverty IRE Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 50.306s
6. Alex Lowes GBR PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 50.438s
7. Stefan Bradl GER Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 50.685s
8. Jordi Torres ESP Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 50.708s
9. Nicky Hayden USA Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 50.837s
10. Xavi Fores ESP Barni Ducati 1199R 1m 50.884s
11. Marco Melandri ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 50.886s
12. Leandro Mercado ITA IodaRacing Aprilia RSV4 1m 50.978s
13. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta RC F4 RR 1m 51.047s
14. Roman Ramos ESP Team Go Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 51.267s
15. Randy Krummenacher SWI Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 51.403s
16. Markus Reiterberger GER Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 51.596s
17. Alex de Angelis SMR Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 52.317s
18. Ayrton Badovini ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 52.748s
19. Jeremy Guarnoni FRA Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 53.475s