VOL. 53 ISSUE 53 FEBRUARY 23, 2016 P23
basically dry.
Just behind the number-66
Kawasaki was the new number-1
rider, Jonathan Rea, who got
close to Sykes as he finds his
final setup on the all-new Kawa-
saki with its lower-inertia engine.
Third-placed rider Michael van
der Mark was on good form on
the first Honda CBR1000RR, al-
beit third-fastest overall because
of his morning best lap time, not
his afternoon version. He set
more laps than anyone on the
first day: 63.
Jordi Torres (Althea Racing
BMW) was a significant 0.429
seconds from Sykes, in fourth
place. Significant because that
is a relatively large margin but
also significant because of all
the machines ranged against the
KRT pairing, a BMW rider was
fourth.
A late charge from Nicky
Hayden (Honda World Super-
bike Team) put him fifth fastest,
moving him from outside the top
10 to well inside.
A solid first day for the brand
new WorldSBK-spec Yamaha
R1 saw a new fuel tank design,
plus lots of other new tech parts,
work well for the returning of-
ficial team. Sylvain Guintoli (Pata
Yamaha Official WSB Yamaha)
was sixth and his still recovering
teammate Alex Lowes an equally
strong seventh.
The surprise fastest Ducati
rider was Barni Racing rider
Xavi Fores, eighth, one place
ahead of Aruba.it Racing Ducati
WSB rider Chaz Davies, and two
places ahead of Davide Giug-
liano's official bike.
Chaz Davies fell at the exit of
turn 12 in the afternoon, suffer-
ing no real injury according to
his team, but losing some valu-
able late track time.
In the morning session Karel
Abraham crashed out on his Mil-
waukee BMW, having a big high-
side at turn 11. Alex De Angelis
(IodaRacing Team Aprilia) was
another faller, escaping without
injury after his recent recovery
from a horrible crash in MotoGP
last year. He would end up 20th
fastest. His teammate Lorenzo
Savadori was 15th fastest as he
makes the jump up from Super-
stock 1000.
Leon Camier was 13th on his
official MV Agusta, and Josh
Brookes 14th, the fastest Milwau-
kee BMW rider. He set a faster
time in the morning than the
afternoon, like only three other
riders.
Gordon Ritchie
World Champion Jonathan Rea was
second on day one at Phillip Island.
Michael van
der Mark has
the pressure
of a MotoGP
World Champion
teammate this year
and took third on
day one.
