Phillip Island WorldSBK Test – Day 2: Rea Finishes on Top

Jonathan Rea has topped the final World Superbike test of the 2017 preseason, a few days before the season kicks off in earnest at Phillip Island.

The reigning champion was fastest in the morning session, though he had to cede top spot to Marco Melandri in the afternoon. But the Kawasaki man had gone fast enough in the morning to just edge the Ducati of Melandri, and end the test as fastest overall.

Chaz Davies was third fastest, three tenths off the time of his Ducati teammate Melandri, but still ahead of the Kawasaki if Tom Sykes. Xavi Fores made it three Ducatis in the top five, while Leon Camier put the MV Agusta into 6th place, in what is a promising start to the 2017 season.

The MV Agusta topped the timesheets in the World Supersport class, PJ Jacobsen taking a big lead over Roby Rolfo. The American led the Italian – also aboard an MV Agusta 675 – in the morning, but Rolfo was unable to improve his time, suffering a crash towards the end of the morning session, colliding with Gino Rea.

Jules Cluzel put the Honda into third spot, just ahead of the two Yamahas of Lucas Mahias and Federico Caricasulo. Kenan Sofuoglu rode, but was forced to withdraw from the two opening rounds of World Supersport after a hand injury proved to be causing him too much pain.

World Superbike times:

World Supersport times:

Source: WorldSBK

This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.