Yesterday’s first day of World Superbike testing at Misano saw Marco Melandri head the top of the unofficial time sheets.
The soon-to-be former Yamaha factory rider posted a 1.
36.
0 which was half a second faster than Carlos Checa’s who had set the race record lap at the Italian circuit when the championship hit the track in June for its 6th round.
Checa and Melandri’s team mate Eugene Laverty posted the exact same time to take the second spot.
The test also saw the return of Chris Vermeulen who had skipped Nurburgring due to his continuing elbow injury and he’s expected to take part in the upcoming round at Imola.
Ruben Xaus, who also missed the German round due to a back injury, also returned to track, but Makoto Tamada who subbed for him also was on hand to help the Castrol Honda team.
There was a lot of interest regarding the debut of Toni Elias on the BMW Superbike.
The Spaniard who is expected to return to Moto2 or make the jump to World Superbikes after a very dismal season in MotoGP, posted a best lap of 1.
38.
1 on his first day of getting to know the German machine and Pirelli tires.
Elias also lost the front of the BMW S1000RR at turn 12 and had a harmless crash.
Aprilia had only test rider Alex Hofmann on track, while Max Biaggi is at home nursing his fractured left foot and preparing to attempt a return for Imola, and why Leon Camier wasn’t testing is still a mystery.
Unofficial Tuesday times:1.
M.
Melandri (Yamaha) 1′36.
02.
C.
Checa (Ducati) 1′36.
33.
E.
Laverty (Yamaha) 1′36.
34.
T.
Sykes (Kawasaki) 1′36.
55.
A.
Badovini (BMW) 1′36.
86.
J.
Rea (Honda) 1′36.
97.
J.
Lascorz (Kawasaki) 1′36.
98.
A.
Hofmann (Aprilia) 1′37.
09.
S.
Martin (BMW) 1′37.
910.
R.
Xaus (Honda) 1′38.
011.
T.
Elias (BMW) 1′38.
112.
C.
Vermeulen (Kawasaki) 1′38.
413.
M.
Tamada (Honda) 1′39.
8