Source: Ducati Corse.

A host of Superbike World Championship teams concluded their first test session of the 2015 season at Portimao on Thursday.

Aruba.it Racing Ducati Superbike Team riders Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano, took to the track in its new configuration for the first time this week at the Portuguese circuit in Portimao.

The team had a lot planned for the two-day session, with work centering around the shake-down of the brand new 2015 Ducati Panigale bikes, constructed during the weeks prior to this test session.

Unfortunately Wednesday’s schedule was interrupted by regular rain showers throughout the day, which made for a permanently wet track. The track conditions were similar again on Thursday morning, as a result of which factory riders Davies and Giugliano were only really able to head out on track during the afternoon.

Over the two-day session, the Italian team worked on testing several electronic updates, as well as the new 2015 suspension.

The inconsistent weather brought showers and cold winds for most of Wednesday, hampering progress and allowing Suzuki’s Alex Lowes and Randy de Puniet just a handful of laps.

On Thursday Lowes completed around 50 dry laps of the Portuguese circuit, setting a best unofficial time of 1m44.0s, while his new French teammate circulated for around 40 laps, with a best of 1m45.7s while learning the track layout.

Despite initial expectations regarding the weather conditions, the Crescent Suzuki team completed a detailed program, with the 2015-spec engine working well and allowing testing to extend to new clutch parts and rider set-up.

Also on track during the test was the Aprilia-Red Devils Superbike team, with Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres joined by official test rider Max Biaggi throughout the test.

Haslam finished the two days in the lead after putting in a total of 59 laps and stopping the clock with his best lap at 1m43.5s. Tores posted a 1m45.9s in his transition to WSBK with 75 laps completed.

Despite a harmless crash on some tricky asphalt because of the rain at the end of the first day, the six-time world champion Biaggi finished out the testing schedule with a total of 47 laps.

Rounding out the Superbike riders on track for the Portimao test was BMW Motorrad Italia rider Sylvain Barrier, with a 1m44.8s lap time.

The final European test of the pre-season before teams head to Phillip Island will take place at Jerez, Spain, on 26-27 January.