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The leading pair remains unchanged. Johnny Rea starts from where he left off during testing at Jerez. In November he set a time even better than Rossi's pole lap, this time a best of 1’40”162 was enough to come out on top with his Kawasaki. A clear message to his rivals after 60 laps.
His Kawasaki is flying, as it that of his team-mate Tom Sykes, who set the second fastest time, just over two tenths from the current world champ (+0.260). He didn't head out until the afternoon, twisting the throttle and improving lap after lap, finishing ahead of the Ducati pairing of Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri.
The Welshman has to settle for third place today, more than half a second (+0.623) from Rea. This is only the first day though, and he has another chance to go on the attack tomorrow.
Behind him is a surprising Melandri. The Italian continues to get to grips with the Panigale and his times say it all, as he concludes Tuesday just 0.027 behind his team-mate. He completed 71 laps over the course of the days. No-one was on track for as long as he was, and he also completed several long runs.
Melandri is growing but so too is the Yamaha, which is showing Alex Lowes' potential (+0.896), as he sets the fifth fastest time ahead of Xavi Forés on the Ducati (+1.234). Lorenzo Savadori has a positive day, on only his second appearance with Milwaukee Aprilia. Although he closes more than one second from the front (+1.254), he can console himself with the fact he finishes ahead of team-mate Laverty (+1.980), just eleventh behind the second Yamaha of Michael van der Mark (+1.746)
There was also chance to see the new Fireblade, entrusted to Stefan Bradl and Nicky Hayden, in action. Hayden missed the November test due to injury. On board the new Honda, the American completed 36 laps today, closing in ninth place behind Torres on the BMW. His team-mate finished outside the top ten, twelfth ahead of Reiterberger and rookie Krummenacher.
The top spot remains unchanged in Superbike as it does also in Supersport and Superstock, where Faccani and Thai rider Khairuddin prove that they are the men to beat here. It's back to the track for everyone tomorrow at 10am.
JEREZ TEST - TUESDAY'S TIMES
