Max Neukirchner put down some solid times on his new Suzuki leading him to fourth fastest time of the day.
Shane Byrne (Sterilgarda Ducati) led the time sheets for much of the first day of testing at Portimao, both in the morning session when it was wet in many places then in the afternoon as track conditions dried almost completely. His impressive pace took him to a day one overall best of 1’44.265, less than one second from the absolute track best, set by outgoing champion Troy Bayliss last year.
Byrne had to put in an effort later in the session, as first Michel Fabrizio and then Ben Spies passed him, but after his 47 laps, Byrne held the upper hand on his private 1098R.
Max Neukirchner pushed the new Suzuki to fourth fastest time, still inside the 1’44 bracket, as was the following Noriyuki Haga, getting used to his factory Ducati at a quick pace.
Every one of the 27 riders on show went quicker in the afternoon sessions, leaving Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati) sixth fastest as he put in a strong challenge throughout.
The top Honda was the privateer Stiggy Motorsports machine of Leon Haslam, leading a three rider running flush of CBR machinery ahead of team-mates Jonathan Rea and Carlos Checa.
Laying down the third fastest time, Ben Spies wasn't very far off Fabrizio at the end of Day 1.
The top ten was rounded out by Yukio Kagayama’s Suzuki, with Broc Parkes the leading Kawasaki runner in 14th. The all-new BMW and Aprilia machines were out in full force at this test, with Troy Corser 15th on the S1000RR and Max Biaggi 16th on the vee-four Aprilia.
In the Supersport class, the new combination of Joan Lascorz and his Kawasaki ZX-6R proved to be the quickest overall, albeit on a slightly wetter track than the Superbike riders finally got to ride on.
Second was class rookie Cal Crutchlow, on a Yamaha, with Honda rider Kenan Sofuoglu third, Suzuki man Barry Veneman fourth, making for four different types of machine inside the top four.
Two more days of testing remain.
Porimao Times Day 1:
1. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'44.265
2. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.468
3. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'44.652
4. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'44.931
5. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'44.976
6. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'45.266
7. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.323
8. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.329
9. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.373
10. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'45.448
11. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.558
12. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'45.914
13. Polita A. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'46.110
14. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'46.121
15. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'46.261
16. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1'46.440
17. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.586
18. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.948
19. Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'46.957
20. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'47.340
21. Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.639
22. Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1'47.699
23. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 1'48.269
24. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'48.274
25. Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'49.800
26. Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'50.187
27. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'53.550
