Glenn Allerton has finished the opening World Superbike practice session third quickest.
Only nine riders took to the track in what were damp conditions, the track getting a dry line towards the end of the session.
With 90 seconds remaining in the session Allerton was on top of the timesheets before being displaced by Jonathan Rea in the dying seconds of the 45-minute session. Sylvain Guintoli then pushed Allerton back to third.
Allerton used the session to try and get an initial familiarisation with the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK machine. He is yet to even get the ergonomics of the peg position down pat let alone had a chance to try and work through any set-up issues.
Luckily Sylvain Barrier, who Glenn is replacing this weekend, is also one of the taller riders in the paddock and thus hopefully it should not take too much time to adapt the machine to his liking.
With one machine already effectively in the bin from Barrier’s huge crash during testing earlier in the week there is no spare bike for Glenn, thus he will not be taking any undue risks this weekend before the flag drops to get race one underway at midday Sunday.
“It was a tricky first session,” said Glenn Allerton to MCNews.com.au after first giving his initial feedback about the machine to the Team BMW Motorrad Italia technicians.
“Having to wait in the pit box when you have the chance to ride a World Superbike was really hard and nerve wracking. (laughs)
“By the time I got to turn two I felt comfortable, so all the worries about the feeling of the bike went out of my head and the bike felt really good.
“I just wanted to experience how the bike felt and to end up third was just a bonus really, just enjoying it at the moment.
“This afternoon we should get some dry running and having a real go.”
MCNews.com.au; What will be your schedule for this afternoon’s session, did you get enough time in those tricky conditions to actually try and suggest any changes?
“We are doing some suspension tweaks, changing the handlebar and seat position, we’ve done that now in the pit box. I think with the suspension changes we should have a good package.
“The team initially set the bike a lot softer to help me get used to the bike, and now we are start working towards to putting together some fast laps as the races are 22 laps and it is long way around here and you have to be comfortable.”
MCNews.com.au; What are the chief differences in characteristics on the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK compared to your NextGen Motorsports BMW S 1000 RR?
“The front end feels a lot more positive and direct, it has different forks and triple clamps to my Australian Superbike spec’ NextGen Motorsports BMW S 1000 RR, there is a lot less movement in the front and I had a really confident feeling with the brakes, the Brembo brakes felt unreal.
“I have to just try and absorb as much of it as I can and just go forward and do the best job I can.”
- Rea 1m37.033
- Guintoli 1m38.005
- Allerton 1m38.924
- Toth 1m40.449
- Andreozzi 1m40.553
- Laverty 1m42.118
- Elias 1m47.166
- Morais 1m47.547
- Sebestyen 1m50.076
Only four riders took to the track in the earlier World Supersport session and it was Billy McConnell the pacesetter in what were very wet conditions ahead of Gowland, Rolfo and Wildcard Racing entrant Ryan Taylor.
- McConnell 1m51.460
- Gowland 1m57.871
- Rolfo 1m59.542
- Taylor 2m01.271
