WSBK Portimao Test Results

Byrnes best time, 1:43.294 was 0.046 seconds faster than the previous track record set by Troy Bayliss. Byrne, the 2008 British Superbike Champion set the new record in the dry Saturday session. Byrne also set the fastest time in the Friday tests.

I didnt expect to be fastest in the test to be honest but Im not surprised, says Byrne. The bikes working really well and the relationship and feedback with the team and my engineer is great.

Ben Spies set the second fastest overall time, also on the Saturday test session. The Yamaha Motor Italia rider was two tenths of a second off of Byrnes record time and 0.144 seconds off of Bayliss previous record. Spies continues to record impressive times in just his third outing on Yamahas new YZF-R1.

We worked on some settings over the test and got down to some pretty quick times. We got to try a few things with the bike and made a big step up, taking half a second a lap off, but the weather didnt allow us to get more, says Spies. The bikes got good straight line speed now and were continually improving. Im very confident weve got what it takes to win.

The three-day test gave the riders a chance to try WSBKs new Superpole qualifying format. Starting with the 2009 season, riders will compete in a knockout-style series of sessions. The first round will feature the top 20 riders from the initial qualifying session. The top 16 move onto the second session and then eight riders will advance to the final round.

In a simulation of the new Superpole format, Byrne came on top again to qualify first ahead of Alstare Suzukis Max Neukirchner. Hannspree Ten Kate Hondas Jonathan Rea qualified third and Ducati Xerox rider Noriyuki Haga was fourth to complete the first row.