The MotoGP teams had barely left the Australian circuit when the Superbike World Championship teams were already taking possession. On this characteristic route, where there is no endless straight line (the longest measures 835 m), what are the times for the two categories?
This Tuesday, Jonathan Rhea (Kawasaki) closed the WSBK tests in 1'30.545, while Maverick Vinales had left the southern hemisphere after setting the best time in 1'28.549. The reigning Superbike World Champion's time was run on racing tires, which gave different results to those obtained during the official 2016 event.
Last year, in MotoGP, the fastest lap in the race (with 12° for the air temperature, 33° for that of the track, and 62% humidity) was achieved by Cal Crutchlow in 1'29.494. In Superbike, Chaz Davies rode the fastest on a race lap with his Ducati in 1'31.321 (22°, 41°, 66%). The advantage logically went to the MotoGP machines in the race. But what happened during qualifying practice?
Si Marc Marquez took pole position in the Grand Prix in 1'30.189 (12°, 19°, 73%), however the best time in Superpole went to Tom Sykes in 1'30.020 (21°, 32°, 68%). The difference was not huge, but favorable to the Superbikes. Why are they competitive against MotoGP during testing but not in races? Because Pirelli supplies qualifying tires.
What time would a MotoGP machine achieve with a qualifying rear tire? It's pretty easy to know. In 2013, Jorge Lorenzo took pole position in 1'27.899 (25°, 38°, 26%) during the Bridgestone era, and while the track benefited from a new surface. The same year, Carlos Checa took pole in Superbike on his Panigale in 1'30.234 (26°, 58°, 56%).
Photos: Johnny Rea (© Kawasaki)
