The first day of World Superbike testing at Imola took off with a bang when Leon Haslam posted a hot lap of 1′47.966 on the Santerno of Imola circuit, using the new Pirelli tires that the Italian manufacturer brought in to test.

Pocket Rocket is looking to find something that will help him stop the domination of Max Biaggi and his Aprilia RSV4, before the Brno round in two weeks time, putting in over 40 laps just in the afternoon session in torridly hot weather conditions.

Cal Crutchlow came in second and was a mere 0.010s off Haslam’s best time, but he did it only in the final minutes of the session. Following the two Brits were the Ducati Xerox duo, Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga, with the Italian rider ending up more than five tenths of second faster than his Japanese team mate. Jonathan Rea seems to have gotten over most of his chatter problems, because he just 0.004s slower than Haga.

Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus of BMW finished sixth and seventh respectively, while championship leader Max Biaggi was just eighth and off 1.218 second from rival Haslam. Carlos Checa on his Athea Ducati was ninth and Tom Sykes closed out the top ten on his Kawasaki.

Missing from the Imola test are Pedercini Racing team, Ducati Pata B&G and Supersonic Racing.

WSBK Imola Test Times Day 1

01- Leon Haslam – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 1′47.966
02- Cal Crutchlow – Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 0.010
02- Michel Fabrizio – Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1198 – + 0.340
04- Noriyuki Haga – Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1198 – + 0.869
05- Jonathan Rea – HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 0.873
06- Troy Corser – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 1.175
07- Ruben Xaus – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 1.178
08- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Alitalia Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 1.218
09- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 1.255
10- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX 10R – + 1.445
11- Shane Byrne – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 1.645
12- James Toseland – Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 1.697
13- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 1.991
14- Max Neukirchner – HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 2.130
15- Broc Parkes – ECHO CRS Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 2.146
16- Leon Camier – Aprilia Alitalia Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 2.176
17- Chris Vermeulen – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX 10R – + 2.740

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