---
title: "Rea tops crash-strewn second day in Jerez"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/01/25/rea-tops-crash-strewn-second-day-jerez/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "SBK"
published: "2017-01-25T17:35:42Z"
modified: "2017-01-25T17:36:01Z"
---

# Rea tops crash-strewn second day in Jerez

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea ended the final day of World Superbike testing in Jerez top of the pile despite a fall mid-session.

The reigning world champion came into Wednesday’s running as the man to beat after topping yesterday’s time sheets with a 1m40.162s. Rea was able to improve by three tenths of a second to a 1m39.809s, setting that time on a race tyre. The Northern Irishman only managed 41 laps today, and was lucky to walk away from an off at Turn 3 in the middle of the day unscathed.

![WorldSBK.com](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/01/50404_wt2017_action_big-1.jpg)

Rea’s ZX-10RR wasn’t the only one needing repaired. Team-mate Tom Sykes crashed at the final corner, though his Kawasaki made its way along the pit straight. Unharmed in the incident, the Yorkshireman returned to action not too long afterwards and clocked the third quickest time of the day, a 1m40.219s.

Sandwiched between the pair was Milwaukee Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori, who put in a mighty effort to go second quickest and just a tenth shy of Rea’s best, albeit on a qualifying tyre. However, the Italian’s time was set on the old specification qualifying rubber and not the new version Pirelli brought with them for evaluation.

Aruba.it Ducati’s Marco Melandri continued to impress as he gears up for his much-anticipated WorldSBK return in 2017. The Italian guided his Panigale R to a 1m40.313s and fourth on the time sheets having completed 63 laps. Chaz Davies, on the sister Aruba bike, completed the top five on a 1m40.324s.

![WorldSBK.com](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/01/hayden1440_big-1.jpg)

Nicky Hayden, still recovering from a knee injury sustained in training late last year, piled in the miles on the new Honda Fireblade. Working on fine-tuning the new bike and ironing out the bugs, the Kentucky-born rider was sixth fastest ahead of Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes. Barni Ducati’s Xavi Fores, Hayden’s team-mate Stefan Bradl and the second Yamaha of Michael van der Mark rounded out the top 10.

WorldSBK debutante Randy Krummenacher endured a tough day on his Puccetti Racing Kawasaki. The Swiss rider was involved in a crash with Milwaukee’s Eugene Laverty at Turn 1, his bike taking a fair beating. Thankfully unhurt, Krummenacher ended the test down in 11th and 1.7 seconds off the pace.

Laverty also walked away unharmed and finished the session in 13th on a 1m41.886s having spent the day trying to get the bike to perform better mid-corner. JG Speedfit Kawasaki British Superbike pairing Leon Haslam and Luke Mosey concluded their first test ahead of the 2017 BSB season 14th and 15th respectively.

![](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/01/C27HmDQWIAAsGaE-1.jpg)

Althea BMW’s Jordi Torres was declared unfit to take part in the rest of today’s running following an early fall at Turn 3. He’ll head back home to Spain to rest up and recover ahead of the second official test at Phillip Island next month.

Once again, some of the World Supersport and European Superstock 1000 field were carrying out their 2017 preparations in Jerez. Aruba.it Ducati duo Michael Rinaldi and newcomer Mike Jones topped the STK1000 runners, while Zulfahmi Khairuddin was the fastest WorldSSP rider on his Orelac Racing Kawasaki.

![](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/01/2017-01-25-1.png)