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Factory Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio finished top of the timesheets on the final day the pre-season testing held at Phillip Island, which will host the opening round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship.

The 24 year-old from Rome lapped in 1 minute 32.19 seconds, just three-tenths away from the Australian circuit’s outright record of 1’31″826, set by Troy Corser (Yamaha) in 2007, and four-tenths of a second quicker than Troy Bayliss’s 2008 fastest race lap.

Teammate, Noriyuki Haga finished second fastest, just 1/10th behind. Series rookie, Ben Spies, showed that both he and the new Yamaha will be competitive with 3rd fastest time despite this being his first visit to the fast and flowing Australian circuit.

The 2009 World Superbike Championship kicks off at Phillip Island next weekend and ducatinewstoday will be providing coverage.

Overall Superbike times (unofficial):

1. Fabrizio (Ducati) 1’32″19
2. Haga (Ducati) 1’32″30
3. Spies (Yamaha) 1’32″36
4. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 1’32″59
5. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1’32″78
6. Corser (BMW) 1’32″93
7. Rea (Honda) 1’32″96
8. Sykes (Yamaha) 1’33″10
9. Xaus (BMW) 1’33″53

Update

There has been some controversy as to who was fastest with some reports saying Ten Kate Honda’s Jonathan Rea clocked a 1’31″.8 Since not all riders tested on every day, I have created a composite view of the fastest times which includes the Aprilia’s for example.

link: Fabrizio powers to the top on final day of Phillip Island testing :: SBK – Official Site ::

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