YAMAHA WSB new boy Eugene Laverty set the pace at Phillip Island World Superbike tests, beating 2010 WSB champion Max Biaggi around the undulating Australian circuit.Eugene Laverty now leaves Australia as the fastest rider of the test with a

Hopkins was the only rider on track to dip into the sub 1m:30s lap times on the Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki. Laverty topped the Q2 session on the Swan Yamaha as he edged out team-mate Hill by just 0.036s. The final session saw Hill set an impressive lap

to the outright record for the Sepang circuit. 2:00.518, set by Valentino Rossi in 2009.Full times from Day Two:1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 2m 0.770s (39 laps)2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda Team 2m 1.434s (44 laps)3. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing

. They ban “twin clutch” gearboxes, while the Xtrac IGS is a single-clutch set-up that still allows two gears to be selected simultaneously and shifted instantly with no let-up in power. So while it does exactly the same thing as a dual clutch box, it would

the current 21. Cecchinelli continued: "These are big aids, and they will allow the independent teams to race with much lower budgets."When the new team concept was initially announced it was expected that the idea behind the claiming rule was to allow other

't changed too much from the set up we have on the 800cc right now and the feeling is very similar, so it's pretty good". Casey concluded on the test.HRC understand that the early season test will give them 'valuable feedback about the new prototype from

was able to do in Jerez, I believe I will be able to perform a lot better because back then I hadn’t been on a bike in a competitive environment for six or seven months. "I got thrown in at the deep-end in Spain, but this time I will have a lot more race

backwards for the Italian. The goal for finalising the deal was originally set for the end of August but has been given a further 2-3 weeks given that this is an 'exceptional case'.Should the deal fail an alternative appears to be John Hopkins and a name

different setups, and you had more flexibility when setting the bike up. Now you need to develop the entire bike around the tyres, and the Japanese manufacturers have been better at doing that."Even with all the difficulties in 2011, and the fact

YESTERDAY Colin Edwards made his long-anticipated debut for NGM Forward Racing on the CRT bike he will race next season.Edwards completed his first ride on board the BMW powered CRT bike, posting a best time of 1:43.9 over 39 laps in the private