Byrne leads Brit assault on WSB
Added on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Byrne leads Brit assault on WSB
Shane Byrne led the British assault on the WSB practice time sheets in Portimao today, posting the day’s fastest time on his new Sterilgarda Ducati.
The British Superbikes champion took to his new bike and new team for the first time in Portugal and toppled the best race times of both outgoing Sterilgarda riders Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi by almost a second.
Byrne set a best lap of 1:43.6 on the final afternoon of the test beating Yamaha rider Ben Spies by three-tenths and Biaggi, now riding with Aprilia, by a further two tenths.
Byrne wasn’t the only Brit to impress however, with Spies’ Yamaha teammate Tom Sykes lapping in fourth at 1:44.5, with Stiggy Honda rider Leon Haslam just behind.
Speaking after the test, Sykes said; “For me it’s been a very good test. Having done two days I now feel fully part of the team. It was quite difficult arriving on Tuesday morning for the first day of the test, facing a new bike, a new circuit, and a new team.
“For the 2009 bike, considering it’s at a very early stage of development, I think it’s a fantastic package. The feeling coming out of the corner is unbelievably smooth, the power is so controllable, and the whole bike remains incredibly stable. There is still lots to be done but the outcome is already very good.”
The fourth Brit to leave the BSB championship, Cal Crutchlow, dominated World Supersport testing with a lap of 1:44.9 - a time that would have placed him eighth in the WSB field.
Unofficial Practice Times:
Shane Byrne (Ducati) – 1m 43.6s
Ben Spies – (Yamaha 09) – 1m 43.9s
Max Biaggi – (Aprilia) – 1m44.1s
Tom Sykes – (Yamaha 08) – 1m 44.3s
Leon Haslam - (Honda) – 1m 44.7s
Roberto Rolfo – (Honda) 1m 45.0s
Regis Laconi – (Honda) 1m 45.5
