A torrential overnight downpour and sporadic rain showers in Portimao meant that yesterday dry lap times were unchallenged during the four hours 40 minutes of track time today.
Hannspree Ten Kate Honda ace Jonathan Rea topped the timesheets during Day 2's wet conditions.
With the Portimao circuit being notoriously slow to dry, teams were given the perfect opportunity to work on their wet weather set-up with certain riders taking to the conditions better than others.
For the second day in succession British riders were at the front of the field with Ten Kate
Honda man Jonathan Rea setting the pace in the first fully wet session and then again on a damp track in the afternoon. Second in both sessions was Leon Haslam who had no problem dialing himself into the wet track on his Alstare Suzuki.
The surprise of the day was smooth-riding Troy Corser on his
BMW S1000RR. Despite having a host of new parts to test including Nissin brakes and a new two-part swing arm which is glued together – not welded, the Australian rider was fast and consistent. Corser said:
“It was a shame that we didn’t get any dry track time today, but we found some good ideas in the damp conditions and, funnily enough, if you can get a good wet set-up, it is easier then to find a good dry set-up, so I’m happy how things worked out.
“Compared to the race here last year the bike is quite a bit better now then it was. The engine is now very good and the smoother throttle response makes the bike much easier to ride. Of course, there are still areas that we have to work on, but now I really feel that I can race this bike.”
Cal Crutchlow landed in the fourth-fastest time slot on his Sterilgarda Yamaha.
Fourth-spot went to Cal Crutchlow who once again showed that he has the pace to trouble the WSB favorites in 2010. He said: “The traction control system is having to do a lot of work in these conditions but I actually feel that it is holding me back on the exit of some corners. We’re also using a lot of tires – I must have done three sets in under 30 laps!”
Xerox
Ducati man Noriyuki Haga was one rider who sat out the opening session but was still able to secure the sixth-spot onboard his Xerox Ducati.
After a strong Day 1 performance where he finished fifth, double World Superbike champion James Toseland was left way down the time sheets in 15th place. He said:
“We had lots to try today, but because of the track conditions we couldn’t test any of it. It was the first time I’d ridden on the latest Pirelli wets and even when it actually got dryer and I went to intermediates I didn’t really go any faster. Hopefully it will be dry tomorrow because I’ve got new electronics to test and I can only really do that if I’m lapping on the pace.”
Testing resumes tomorrow and the forecast is for dry conditions with sunny spells.
World Superbike Day 2 Results:
1. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:49.107
2. Leon Haslam (Suzuki) 1:49.391
Althea Racing Ducati's Carlos Checa grabbed the final top-ten spot.
3. Troy Corser (BMW) 1:49.606
4. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1:50.168
5. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:50.616
6. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) 1:51.167
7. Ruben Xaus (BMW) 1:51.170
8. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki) 1:51.253
9. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 1:52.108
10. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1:53.854
11. Leon Camier (Aprilia) 1:54.008
12. Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki) 1:54.816
13. Max Neukirchner (Honda) 1:54.829
14. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) 1:55.094
15. James Toseland (Yamaha) 1:55.478
16. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Honda) 1:57.001
17. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 1:57.963
18. Javier Fores (Kawasaki) 1:58.409
19. Broc Parkes (Honda) 1:58.896
20. Roger Lee Hayden (Kawasaki) 1:59.721
