Chaz Davies has been forced to miss out of the remainder of the three day Jerez test his Ducati team had planned, as he hopes to nurse his injuries sustained from a fast crash through turn one on Wednesday afternoon.

Getting his test off to a steady start in Southern Spain, the 2017 WorldSBK Championship runner-up was only able to make a small chip into his testing plan for 2018, and as hoping to make more progress over the coming days.

However after a big crash in the closing hour of Wednesday, the 30 year old sustained a knee injury and took Thursday off to rest. Despite hoping to be back on the bike for the final day of testing, Davies and his team took the decision to sit out of the remainder of the test.

A disappointed Davies explains: "Unfortunately, a fall on the first day of testing has prevented us from doing most of the planned program."

"Now I will observe a few days of absolute rest to reduce inflammation, and on Monday I will visit a sports physiotherapist to evaluate a recovery program."

"It's the first time I carry a knee injury, we just have patience but I hope and I think I can start training again within a few weeks." Added the British rider

source: worldsbk.com

Day three of testing commenced at Circuito de Jerez with the winter sun continuing to beat down, and the WorldSBK Championship had more track activity to compete with, as they were joined by MotoGP riders out on track.

With 10 WorldSBK riders out on track, the Kawasaki Racing Team duo of Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea were still the pair to catch, ending the day on top once again.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi was the first rider out on track this morning, as he was keen to take on the Panigale for the first time, offered as a present from the Aruba squad following his European Superstock 1000 Title.

However once the track warmed up, it didn’t take long for the Kawasaki Racing Team duo to shoot to the top of the timing screens, as Sykes led  for the majority of the day. Rivalling times of their MotoGP counterparts who were also out on track today, the 2017 World Championship winning team weren’t wasting any time in Southern Spain – and Sykes was able to sit in second position overall for the majority of the morning.

Rea suffered a big crash at turn 12 at the mid-way point of the day, but was able to walk away and swiftly returned back on track. But with a stunning end to the day, Sykes put in a lap under the lap record – a 1.38.735 compared to 1.38.960.

Leon Camier had his first experience with the Fireblade CBR1000RR SP2 around the Jerez circuit today, and took a steady approach to the day.

Putting in 61 laps, his lap time of 1.40.856, he was able to begin to get an understanding of both the team and the machine he will be taming next season. Improving at the end of the day, Camier will be ready to work through with another day of on track action, the British rider will continue to work to adapt to his new bike.

With Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri also present in Jerez, the Ducati team worked on their new rev limit under the 2018 regulations and were able to put in over 120 laps as a duo.

However the day took a difficult turn, as Davies crashed in the closing hour of track action, unable to improve his time of 1.40.630.

Walking away from the fast crash at turn one which brought the red flags out and as a result an early end to the day, the Welsh rider will hope to be back and fighting fit on Thursday after sustaining a right knee contusion. 

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team also had three riders out on track, with Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark present, as well as Niccolo Canepa who was on track to help the team work through the vast amount of work they have.

British rider Lowes had a strong day, finishing in fourth position on the WorldSBK timing screens and was able to get his lap time down to 1.39.715, with 70 laps clocked in. Whilst Dutch team-mate van der Mark ended in the top six, putting in six more laps than his team-mate and setting a time of 1.40.573.

Full WorldSBK Official times from Day 3:

1.            Tom SYKES                            Laps: 69          1:38:735              
2.            Jonathan REA                         Laps: 71          1:39:050           +0.770
3.            Marco MELANDRI                  Laps: 65          1:39:715           +1.435
4.            Alex LOWES                           Laps: 70          1:39:715           +1.435  
5.            Xavi FORES                           Laps: 63          1:40:542            +2.262
6.           Michael van der MARK            Laps: 84          1:40:573           +2.293
7.           Chaz DAVIES                          Laps: 64          1:40:630            +2.350
8.           Leon CAMIER                          Laps: 61         1:40:856            +2.576
9.           Niccolo CANEPA                     Laps: 68          1:41:294            +3.014
10.         Michael RINALDI                    Laps: 67          1:41:374            +3.094

Continuing to prepare for the 2018 WorldSBK Championship, seven riders took to the Circuito de Jerez for day four of the week long test, and it was veteran Marco Melandri who ended the day on top, as his team-mate Chaz Davies and Kawasaki Racing Team sat out of day four.

Continuing to enjoy riding the WorldSBK Paniagle R, Michael Ruben Rinaldi was once again out first out on track, and he put in an impressive 82 laps of the 4.4km circuit.

Ending the day at the bottom of the timing screens, he has been working hard to understand the pace of the Superbike machine. Sharing the garage with the fastest man of the day, Melandri’s final time of 1.39.663 was enough to sit him 0.107s ahead of his rivals as he continues to work on the 2018 regulations.

Ducati’s Chaz Davies was forced to sit out of his second day at the Jerez test, as he was recovering from his fast turn one crash on Wednesday evening.

Hoping to be back and fit for the final day on Friday, the Welsh rider was classed as unfit and was unable to partake in the end of the test.  

Kawasaki Racing Team duo Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea have been able to put in a strong week of testing so far, meaning they were able to sit out of day four of the week, with the pair using the day to rest up before a final day on Friday.

Alex Lowes was putting up a strong fight to secure the fastest time of the day, and was provisionally sat in the top spot at the half way point. Ending the day with a time of 1.39.770, its clear himself and his new crew chief Andrew Pitt have found a strong setting on his YZF-R1.

Whilst his team-mate Michael van der Mark finished the day fifth overall, continuing to look for an improved pace – ending the day with 1.40.199.

Most notably of the day, Leon Camier made some big improvements on just his second day with the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, putting in a time fast enough to see him third fastest overall, and shaving a second off his day one lap time. With 76 laps under his belt on day two, his final lap time was 1.39.797.

Xavi Fores was able to continue working on the set-up of his Panigale, securing the fourth fastest time of the day with a 1.40.002. Focusing mainly on race pace as opposed to fast laps, the Spanish rider will be happy with his progress after clocking in 58 laps.

Full WorldSBK Official times from Day 4:

1.            Marco MELANDRI                 Laps: 67          1:39:663              
2.            Alex LOWES                          Laps: 74          1:39:770            +0.107
3.            Leon CAMIER                        Laps: 76          1:39:797            +0.134
4.            Xavi FORES                          Laps: 58           1:40:002           +0.339  
5.            Michael van der MARK          Laps: 85          1:40:199           +0.536
6.           Niccolo Canepa                      Laps: 57          1:40:593            +0.930
7.           Michael Ruben RINALDI        Laps: 82          1:40:606            +0.943

Sunny conditions swamped the Circuito de Jerez once again for day two of the WorldSBK Championship testing, and it was another green machine on the top of the timing screens, as Tom Sykes finished 0.776s ahead of the rest of the six strong field.

Sykes had a stunning day around the Spanish circuit, as he continues to work on some small issues found with the 2018 ZX-10RR. Working through the issues with his team for the week, he was the only rider to put in a time under 1.40, with his final time a lap of 1.39.692.

Continuing to struggle with pain from his Qatar crash, Jordi Torres spent the day continuing to bond with the team and understand his Italian bike, and was the first rider out on track. Putting in over 70 laps of the 4.4km circuit, he ended the day in the top three as he begins to adapt his riding style to the bike.

By 11am all riders were out on track and the times began to tumble to below 1.40s, with Sykes leaving the garage and setting the bench mark of 1.40.883.

Loris Baz was keen to get out on track, with his plan to adapt to the brakes and tyres in the morning before working on faster laps as the day went on.

The French rider clocked a stunning 94 laps, with a final lap time of 1.40.468 to end his final day out on track.

Milwaukee Aprilia were once again out on track for the majority of the day, whilst Lorenzo Savadori begins to work with his new crew chief. Savadori and his team-mate Eugene Laverty were able to put in over 140 laps combined, and they ended the test with plenty of data to take forward. Laverty had a strong end to the day, shooting up into third position.

Leandro Mercado spent his second day on the ZX-10RR, with a strong first impression on the Kawasaki. Spending the time understanding both the bike and the team, he had a steady day as he completed 29 laps, setting a time of 1.41.034.

Full day two official times:

1.            Tom SYKES - Laps: 74 - 1:39.692              
2.            Loris BAZ -  Laps: 94 - 1:40.468 (+0.776)
3              Eugene LAVERTY - Laps: 73 - 1:40.551 (+0.859)
4              Jordi TORRES -  Laps: 82 - 1:40.595 (+0.903 )
5              Lorenzo SAVADORI -  Laps: 79 - 1:40.841(+1.149)
6            Leandro MERCADO - Laps: 29 - 1:41:034 (+1.342)