The third and final day of testing wrapped up Friday at Portimao, Portugal, the first official session of the 2011 World Superbike Championship.
A repeat of the first two days, rain fell, slowing the WSBK riders as they tuned their Superbikes for the upcoming 13-race season. Leading the combined times of the morning and afternoon sessions Friday was Ruben Xaus on the Castrol Honda CBR1000RR.
Xaus posted 1:47.065, followed 1.2 seconds later by Michel Fabrizio on the Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Noriyuki Haga topped the afternoon session timesheets aboard the PATA Racing Aprilia RSV4, and was fourth fastest overall on Friday; many riders didn't get on the track for the afternoon session due to the rain.
Out of all three days combined, the privateer Ducati effort by the Team Effenbert - Liberty Racing team took the top time with Jakub Smrz at the controls. Smrz set the time of 1:43.503 on Wednesday, and his Czech-based Ducati team was not touched since.
The other Castrol Honda rider, Jonathan Rea, was second fastest overall, followed by rookie Yamaha WSBK Team rider Eugene Laverty. And just as in day one, four different manufacturers controlled the top four overall times; in fourth was Tom Sykes aboard the Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R.
Rounding out the top five was Althea Racing Ducati rider Carlos Checa. The reigning World Superbike Champion, Max Biaggi, was sixth fastest overall aboard the Alitalia Aprilia. He only participated in the test on the first day.
The next and final pre-season test will occur at Phillip Island, Australia, on Feb. 21 and 22. The first race of the 2011 World Superbike season will be at Phillip Island on Feb. 27.
2011 Portimao World Superbike Test - Day 3 (Fri) Combined Times
1. 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.065
2. 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'48.267
3. 41 Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'53.414
4. 58 Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1'54.130
5. 33 Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'54.348
6. 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'54.516
7. 121 Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'55.633
8. 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'56.276
9. 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'56.328
10. 17 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'56.361
11. 4 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'56.378
12. 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'56.571
13. 86 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'57.759
14. 52 Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1'58.234
15. 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'58.703
2011 Portimao World Superbike Test: Combined Times (Wed/Thu/Fri)
1. 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'43.503
2. 4 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'43.676
3. 58 Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1'43.707
4. 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'43.770
5. 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'43.789
6. 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'43.840
7. 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'43.879
8. 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.369
9. 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'44.446
10. 17 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'44.752
11. 52 Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1'44.764
12. 41 Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'44.857
13. 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'44.885
14. 121 Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.886
15. 33 Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.461
16. 86 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'45.678
