TOM SYKES ended Carlos Checa's dominance in testing at Phillip Island, finishing with the fastest time at the close of the official pre-season test at the Australian circuit.
Sykes set a time of 1:31.648 on a cooler track early in the session to overtake the reigning champion's time by just 0.004 seconds.
Jakub Smrz on the Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati was in third, followed by Honda's Jonathan Rea who was the last rider to lap within the 1:32 bracket.
After five days of testing, both private and official, the World Superbike season is ready for the opening round at Phillip Island this weekend.
Combined Times (Monday-Tuesday)
1. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'31.648
2. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'31.652
3. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'31.800
4. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.913
5. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'32.034
6. Melandri M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.232
7. Giugliano D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.319
8. Camier L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'32.320
9. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.347
10. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.397
11. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'32.540
12. Fabrizio M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.605
13. Canepa N. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.746
14. Aoyama H. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.910
15. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.911
16. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.948
17. Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'33.136
18. Davies C. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'33.358
19. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'33.385
20. Staring B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'33.418
21. Brookes J. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'33.623
22. Aitchison M. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'34.169
23. De Rosa R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.341
Superbike records at Phillip Island
Fastest Lap: Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 1'31"826 (2007)
Superpole: Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1'30"882 (2011)
Best Lap: Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1'30"826 (2011)
