European Superstock Imola Test: Day 1

The top three Superstock 1000 championship challengers dominated the day’s action in a one-day test at the revised Imola circuit today. After almost seven hours of track time, the quickest was Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Claudio Corti, but he was knocked off the top slot with twenty minutes to go by Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Honda). The Italian then went out again to take the new track record in 1 minute 52.672 seconds. Third place went to the other title contender Xavier Simeon (Ducati Xerox), the Belgian not being in the best of physical condition.

Fourth place went to Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Yamaha) ahead of another Italian, Davide Giugliano (Suzuki Celani), the ex-MV Agusta man finally getting to grips with a fully competitive machine. Ayrton Badovini was brought into the Aprilia Junior team to help speed up the development of the RSV4, and the former SBK rider did the job well, ending the tests in seventh place.

The 600 category, whose riders shared the track with the Superstock 1000 competitors, was totally dominated by Yamaha Trasimeno. Best time of 1 minute 55.982 seconds went to Danilo Petrucci in 1’55”982, more than a second and a half quicker than team-mate Marco Bussolotti. Eddy La Marra (Honda Lorini) was third.

Tomorrow and Thursday will see the Superbike and Supersport riders out on track for nine and six hours of testing respectively over the next two days.

1              71           Corti C. (ITA)      Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9    1′53.462

2             19           Simeon X. (BEL)                Ducati 1098R      1′53.750

3             21           Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR           1′54.355

4             34          Giugliano D. (ITA)             Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9    1′54.832

5             29          Beretta D. (ITA)                Ducati 1098R      1′55.058

6             53          Lammert D. (GER)           Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9    1′55.837

7             119          Magnoni M. (ITA)              Yamaha YZF R1 1′55.846

8               8           Antonelli A. (ITA)              Yamaha YZF R1 1′56.017

9             12           Vivarelli N. (ITA)               Honda CBR1000RR           1′56.402

10            20          Barrier S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R1 1′56.702

11             65         Baz L. (FRA)       Yamaha YZF R1 1′56.829

12            81           Badovini A. (ITA)              Aprilia RSV4 Factory       1′57.325

13            25          Black G. (GBR)   Yamaha YZF R1 1′57.736

14            41           Baroni L. (ITA)   Yamaha YZF R1 1′57.995

15              9           Petrucci D. (ITA)               Yamaha YZF R6                1′58.100

16              5           Bussolotti M. (ITA)           Yamaha YZF R6                1′58.634

17            23          Sandi F. (ITA)     Aprilia RSV4 Factory       1′58.966

18            47          La Marra E. (ITA)              Honda CBR600RR            1′59.249

19            111            Guarnoni J. (FRA)             Yamaha YZF R6                1′59.473

20           14           Biaggi F. (ITA)    Aprilia RSV4 Factory       1′59.747

21              4           Rea G. (GBR)      Honda CBR600RR            1′59.817

22           11            Tutusaus P. (ESP)            KTM RC8 R          2′00.424

23           89         Kerschbaumer S. (AUT)  Yamaha YZF R6                2′00.689

24           191          Morelli N. (ITA)  Honda CBR600RR            2′01.076

25             2           Cecchini R. (ITA)               Honda CBR600RR            2′01.496

26           125         Farinelli R. (ITA)                Yamaha YZF R6                2′01.541

27           36          Chmielewski A. (POL)     Yamaha YZF R6                2′02.072

28           132          Manfrinati D. (ITA)           Honda CBR600RR            2′03.826

29           117           Sacchetti D. (ITA)             KTM RC8 R          2′07.924