After mixed conditions at last week's three-day World Superbike test in Portimao, a handful of teams arrived at the Valencia two-day test with high hopes for better weather and more track time. Mother Nature had other ideas.

Teams were forced to forgo testing on Day 1 due to cold temperatures and a very wet track. However, the wet weather did not resume on Day 2 and, despite the chilly temperatures, teams took to the track for limited durations in the afternoon.

The unofficial times posted show Carlos Checa with the fastest time on the Althea Racing Ducati with fellow Ducati pilot Noriyuki Haga behind.

The WSB teams are now home until Mid-February when the final pre-championship tests begin in Philip Island before the opening round of the 2010 World Superbike series.

Noriyuki Haga - Ducati Xerox (1:34.00):
“Unfortunately yesterday was a total loss due to the wet, cold conditions but today we were able to ride all afternoon. We continued with the work started at Portimao, testing suspension settings and various tire compounds. I also tried a new clutch which seemed to perform well, and my lap times were fairly fast seeing as it was extremely cold. I’d say we’re very happy, although we’ve seen that the privateer Ducatis of Checa and Byrne were also very fast so I guess the first race of the season will be very interesting; I can’t wait to race!”

Michel Fabrizio - Ducati Xerox (1.34.30):
“We haven’t been very lucky with the weather, with rain both here and in Portimao. But it’s all gone really well today, bearing in mind that it was for us the first, and last, day. We found a good pace and are pretty satisfied with the lap times. It was a bit difficult to evaluate the tires well in these conditions but, all in all, it went a lot better for us than it did at Portimao and I feel like we’re back on track.”

Troy Corser - BMW (1:35.30):
One thing is for sure, these tests were not about lap times! It would have been good to have had two full days of testing and then maybe spend the last hour or so going for some quick times, but the bad weather changed everything. I don’t think I’ve known such cold conditions at a racetrack and when the team and I arrived to start on Wednesday morning, it was obvious that not much would be going on. Cold is one thing, but cold and wet is another, because when the conditions are so cold, the tires just don’t work. I think Ruben and I did about five or six laps each, just to find out what the track was like, and then we were told that there was no point going out because a) we wouldn’t learn anything and b) it would be so easy to crash and maybe ruin the whole test. So, we all went off to lunch and then had the rest of the day off! There were some other teams testing also, but they felt the same way and nobody did any laps in the afternoon at all."

"Day two started off sunny, with an almost perfect blue sky, but very, very cold. When the technicians pointed the temperature gun at the track in front of the pit straight, it registered minus 4! The problem with Valencia in winter is that even if it doesn’t rain, moisture comes up through the track in some areas and it is so easy to get caught out and have a get-off. And for some reason, falling almost hurts more when it’s cold, so that was the last thing I or anybody else wanted. The team finally decided that we could go out just before 11.30, which meant we’d already lost two hours track time. We started off a bit cautiously and tried to work out where the problem parts of the track might be. Then, once that was done, it was down to the usual program of going out for five or six laps, then coming back in and giving info the technicians. Because we had lost so much time, the team threw quite a lot of stuff at us and maybe there was a bit too much to try in the available time and it was quite easy to get a bit confused sometimes. The bike has improved quite a bit since the end of last season and it’s natural for the team to want to get as much info as possible, but sometimes that’s a bit hard on us riders because only so much can be done in a limited amount of time. Having said that, I feel we learned quite a bit and found have some good ideas and directions to take the next time we go out. Hopefully the next tests (in Phillip Island) will be very productive and make up for the time lost in Portimao and Valencia. And hopefully the weather will be better also!"

Max Biaggi - Aprilia:
"Unfortunately this time the weather was against us and this could be a problem because we didn't get the confirmation we were looking for. In addition our rivals will also be testing tomorrow, when it's expected to be sunny. Now the situation is a bit more complicated, we'll be testing in Australia before the race, but if there are any problems then it will be too late to do anything. I'm still optimistic however because I have every confidence in the work of the Aprilia engineers".

Carlos Checa - Athea Racing Ducati (1:33.80):
"I'm happy with my today test. We have worked very well, despite the cold temperature. We have been focused on working through the set up of the bike to make sure we have everything ready for the beginning of the world championship. After Portimao and Valencia test I'm feeling more comfortable on both my Ducati 1198 bikes. Today we tested some new tires and different setting and I think we did a really very good job. I want to thank my crew who has done such a wonderful job here in Valencia. This afternoon I scored the best lap time, that's always something good, but I'm very happy also because I'm sure we are on the right way, ready for Phillip Island first races".


Shane Byrne - Althea Racing Ducati (1:34.10):
"Today was very good. I was able to finish so many laps and my mechanics works in a very good way. We pushed hard and I'm very happy with my best lap time and with our job. I want to thanks my mechanics for their great help and Genesio for giving me a good bike. Now we'll go in Phillips Island for some more day of test and for our first races of the season. I'm confident because we are really in a strong situation and we have a good package to take to Australia".