Honda’s Rea Leads Official Imola World Superbike Test

2014 One-Day Imola World Superbike Test

Following his double win Sunday at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola, Pata Honda World Superbike’s Jonathan Rea carried the momentum into the official one-day test Monday held at the Italian track.

The six-hour test, which allowed riders to continue developing their perspective machines, and also get ready for Donington World SBK in two weeks, was split into two sessions.

From the outset, Rea was quickest, eventually ending the day with a best time of 1:47.225 around the 3-mile circuit containing 22 corners. Under sunny and warm conditions, the Northern Irishman just edged out Ducati Superbike’s Chaz Davies and Red Devils Aprilia’s Toni Elias. These top three riders posted within 0.158 of a second of each other.

Voltcom Suzuki’s Eugene Laverty and Ducati Superbike Team’s Davide Giugliano rounded out the top five. As for the EVO class, once again it was Althea Racing Team Ducati’s Niccolo Canepa who was quickest; the Italian 10th fastest with a lap of 1:48.323.

2014 Imola World Superbike Test – the Work Completed

The Pata Honda World Superbike team of Rea and Leon Haslam continued to finely tune the CBR1000RR Fireblade. During the test, Halsam was able to vastly improve over his weekend-race times.

Following a difficult weekend, The Voltcom Crescent Suzuki Team concentrated on evaluating new electronic strategies to sort out the engine braking issues that plagued both Laverty and Alex Lowes. Laverty also tried out new chassis setups, while Lowes tested a different swingarm with encouraging results and resultant lap-time improvements.

Ducati Superbike Team duo of Davies and Giugliano continued to improve the setup of the 1199 Panigale R super bikes.

Aprilia Racing Team’s Sylvain Guintoli evaluated some new parts on his RSV4, as his teammate Marco Melandri attempted to solve some issues that surfaced during Imola World SBK.

The MV Agusta RC-Yakhnick Motorsport Team’s sole rider Claudo Corti experimented with a new engine, swing arm and electronics on the F4RR.

This test was also the chance to test the developmental compounds brought by Pirelli, the Official Tire Supplier of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship. Two new front tire solutions for both full-spec Superbikes and EVO machines, as well as two specifically developed rear compounds for each category, were made available to the teams, World SBK reports.

2014 Imola World Superbike Official Test Results:

1. Rea (Honda) 1’47.225 average 165.723 kph.

2. Davies (Ducati) 1’47.310.

3. Elias (Aprilia) 1’47.383.

4. Laverty (Suzuki) 1’47.550.

5. Giugliano (Ducati) 1’47.589.

6. Lowes (Suzuki) 1’47.628.

7. Melandri (Aprilia) 1’47.636.

8. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’47.650.

9. Haslam (Honda) 1’47.722.

10. Canepa (Ducati) 1’48.323.

11. Camier (BMW) 1’48.439.

12. Badovini (Bimota) 1’48.671.

13. Corti (MV Agusta) 1’48.851.

14. Savadori (Kawasaki) 1’49.467.

15. Iddon (Bimota) 1’49.820.

16. Scassa (Kawasaki) 1’49.948.

17. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 1’50.516.

18. Foret (Kawasaki) 1’50.801.

19. Andreozzi (Kawasaki) 1’50.815.

20. Toth (BMW) 1’51.086.

21. May (EBR) 1’52.433.