SBK, Phillip Island Test: Melandri amazes, only Rea ahead of him

He leads the way once more. We're talking about Johnny Rea. The Kawasaki rider sent a clear message ahead of the coming's weekend first races, setting the fastest time on this second and final day of pre-season testing for the production-derived bikes. The Northern Irishman stopped the clock 1’30”545, a time that secured him the top spot at the end of the day. As if that were not enough, the number 1 rider also carried out a race simulation, lapping consistently in 1’31. It appears he has all he needed for another stand-out season start.

Marco Melandri is looking for the same thing on the Ducati. Just a fraction of a second behind Rea, 30 thousandths to be precise. In the final phase, the Borgo Panigale rider was able to close in on the current world champion to finish ahead of Chaz Davies (+0.348). Marco is more than three tenths clear of his Welsh team-mate. Number 7 focused on race preparation, completing 73 laps, three less than Rea. Behind him is the Kawasaki of Tom Sykes (+0.499), who closes the afternoon session with a similar gap to that of the morning. The first four thus finish up exactly where we left them at the end of the FP1.

On this sunny Tuesday at Phillip Island, Xavi Forés (+0.681) and Leon Camier (+0.748) also shone. The Spaniard completed a long-run and a total of 72 laps, finishing in fifth place ahead of the Englishman on the MV.

Honda continues to struggle. A two-day test that doesn't meet with expectations for Nicky Hayden (+1.407) and Stefan Bradl (+2.251), forced to deal with a gap of one and a half seconds. Yamaha did a little better, with Alex Lowes closing eighth, Michael van der Mark just thirteenth.

With regard to the Italian contingent, Lorenzo Savadori took a step forward in the afternoon, to finish seventh (+0.904). He also worked on pace, completing 56 laps. Alex De Anglelis closes outside of the top ten, eleventh behind rookie Krummenacher. From Friday things get serious.