Melandri quickest in Misano testing
Marco Melandri set the quickest time for Yamaha on day 1 of Misano testing. The Italian lapped the World Circuit in a time of 1 minute 36.0 seconds, half a second quicker than June's race record lap set by Carlos Checa (1'36.520). The Althea Ducati man however still holds the best unofficial time around Misano, with a 1'34.9 set in May's testing. This time round Checa was three-tenths slower than Melandri and shares the slot with Eugene Laverty on the other Yamaha.
One-make tyre supplier Pirelli brought along the latest 2012-spec material, in particular for the Phillip Island opener, to the test as well as the tyres that will be used in the final three rounds of this year's championship.
With testing taking place in perfect conditions (air 31° / track 44°C), much interest surrounded the debut of Toni Elias (LCR Honda's MotoGP rider) on the BMW Italia machine vacated by James Toseland, who retired this week. The Spaniard, for the first time ever on a Superbike, did have one harmless crash and finished the day with a best lap of 1'38.1.
Excellent form was also shown by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) with a time of 1'36.5, the British rider galvanized by his recent win in the wet at the Nurburgring. Joan Lascorz and the recovering Chris Vermeulen were also testing for the Akashi manufacturer, the Australian set to return to race action at Imola after a difficult season.
With Max Biaggi still convalescent after fracturing a bone in his left foot in Germany, Aprilia's testing duties were carried out by its test-team and German rider Alex Hofmann (1'37.0). The reigning world champion will attempt to return at Imola.
Unofficial Tuesday times: 1. Melandri (Yamaha) 1'36.0; 2. Checa (Ducati) 1'36.3; 3. Laverty (Yamaha) 1'36.3; 4. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'36.5; 5. Badovini (BMW) 1'36.8; 6. Rea (Honda) 1'36.9; 7. Lascorz (Kawasaki) 1'36.9; 8. Hofmann (Aprilia) 1'37.0; 9. Martin (BMW) 1'37.9; 10. Xaus (Honda) 1'38.0; 11. Elias (BMW) 1'38.1; 12. Vermeulen (Kawasaki) 1'38.4; 13. Tamada (Honda) 1'39.8.
Supersport: 1. Salom (Kawasaki) 1'39.4; 2. Parkes (Kawasaki) 1'39.7; 3. Morais (Kawasaki) 1'40.6
