
Honda’s Jonathan Rea has set the fastest time in opening practice for round one of the 2014 Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island this weekend.
But it was a session which saw only 14 of the 25 riders take to the 4.45km grand prix circuit, which was declared “wet” after early morning rain.
Among those to remain dry in their pit garages included world champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki), world No. 2 Eugene Laverty (Suzuki), Marco Melandri (Aprilia) and Alex Lowes (Suzuki) – the four fastest riders in pre-season testing earlier this week.
On a still drying track, Rea was fastest with a 1min37.003sec lap, followed by last year’s Phillip Island race winner Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia, 1:38.005) and Australia’s Glenn Allerton (1:38.924), who is replacing injured Frenchman Sylvain Barrier on a BMW this weekend.
Other riders to tip-toe around the track were factory Ducati riders Davide Guigliano and Chaz Davies, and Honda’s Leon Haslam.
The second 45-minute world superbike practice session will be held at 3:30pm this afternoon when dry weather is predicted.
Ffi Ingrid Roepers on mobile 04 111 989 44 or iroepers@irpr.com.au