Whichever hemisphere the World Superbike riders choose to test, finding somewhere warm and dry remains an almost impossible task. While BMW, Suzuki and Honda shelter from the rain in Portugal, Aprilia and Yamaha are circulating in less than ideal conditions at Phillip Island in Australia. Though the track was dry, Max Biaggi described conditions as "like winter," according to GPOne.com.
Despite the cold, it was Biaggi who as the fastest on the first day of the test. The 2010 World Superbike champion tested the 2011 Ohlins forks (which he liked) and some Pirelli race tires (which it was too cold to make a judgement on), as well as working on the Aprilia RSV4's engine, now reduced to using chain-driven cams again, after the rule permitting the fitting of a gear drive for the overhead cams was changed, making them illegal again. Yamaha newcomer - and World Supersport runner up - Eugene Laverty was 2nd fastest, half a second off the Italian's time, and four tenths ahead of his new teammate, former MotoGP rider Marco Melandri. Biaggi's teammate Leon Camier brought up the rear of the field, just over a second slower than his Aprilia teammate.
Unofficial times from the test:
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