Laverty (Aprilia) the quickest on Day 3 at Jerez
Aprilia Racing and Kawasaki Racing both concluded their final winter test run of the year at Jerez today before the regulation six-week ban kicks in from the start of December through until mid-January.
Quickest man on a day when temperatures did not go much above 12°C was Eugene Laverty, who put in an impressive time of 1 minute 40.185 seconds, representing the new unofficial Jerez track record for the production-based bikes.
Laverty was a shade quicker than Tom Sykes, the Kawasaki rider who had set the benchmark in the first two days of the test. The Kawasaki Racing Team team did not run with transponders but the British rider was accredited with an unofficial time of 1'40.400.
Positive form was also expressed by Michel Fabrizio (Aprilia Red Devils), third quickest ahead of Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli, who today was announced as the Aprilia Racing Team's second rider alongside Laverty. Guintoli takes the place of world champion Max Biaggi, who has retired from racing.
It was the first day of work for BMW with Marco Melandri and new signing Chaz Davies as well as Ducati Alstare with former champion Carlos Checa and their new rider Ayrton Badovini. These two teams will test until Friday, sharing the track time with several MotoGP teams.
Wednesday times: 1. Laverty (Aprilia) 1'40"185 (80 laps); 2. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'40"400 (55); 3. Fabrizio (Aprilia) 1'40"956 (60); 4. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1'41"239 (60); 5. Baz (Kawasaki) 1'41"500 (45); 6. Melandri (BMW) 1'41"800 (82); 7. Hofmann (Aprilia) 1'42"103 (33); 8. Checa (Ducati) 1'43"089 (44); 9. Davies (BMW) 1'43"400 (47); 10. Neukirchner (Ducati) 1'43"613 (48); 11. Badovini (Ducati) 1'43"613 (38).
