KAWASAKI'S Tom Sykes topped the timesheets on the first day of private testing at Phillip Island.
The test is being attended by the majority of the World Superbike teams and riders, ahead of the official test at the same circuit next week.
Sykes set a time of 1:33 flat aboard the Kawasaki ZX-10R. The Brit was quicker than 2011 Champion Carlos Checa, who ended the day 0.3 off the fastest time.
New Aprilia signing, Eugene Laverty was a tenth faster than old team-mate and new BMW recruit Marco Melandri. In fourth was Leon Haslam who set an identical time to Max Biaggi.
John Hopkins had an early crash in the session, breaking his right hand (more here). The other fallers were Biaggi and Maxime Berger, who collided with one another, and Davide Giugliano who crashed his Althea Ducati.
Times released by teams:
Tom Sykes, Kawasaki Racing Team, 1:33.0
Carlos Checa, Althea Racing Ducati, 1:33.3
Eugene Laverty, Aprilia Racing Team, 1:33.3
Marco Melandri, BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 1:33.4
Leon Haslam, BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 1:33.7
Max Biaggi, Aprilia Racing Team, 1:33.7
Jakub Smrz, Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati, 1:34.0
Sylvain Guintoli, Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati, 1:34.1
Joan Lascorz, Kawasaki Racing Team, 1:34.1
Maxime Berger, Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati, 1:34.3
Michel Fabrizio, BMW Motorrad Italia GOLDBET SBK Team, 1:34.4
Leon Camier, Crescent Fixi Suzuki, 1:34.5
David Salom, Team Pedercini Kawasaki, 1:34.9
Ayrton Badovini, BMW Motorrad Italia GOLDBET SBK Team, 1:35.0
David Johnson, Rossair AEP Racing BMW, 1:35.7
David Giugliano, Althea Racing Ducati 1:35.8
Lorenzo Zanetti, PATA Racing Ducati, 1:37.1
John Hopkins, Crescent Fixi Suzuki, No time
