Image: Andrew Gosling.

World number two Eugene Laverty has set the fastest time in the opening session of the official two-day World Superbike test at Phillip Island, ahead of the first round of the 2014 championship this weekend.

The lap record holder and last year’s race two winner set a best time of 1m30.513 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000, to complete the two-hour hit out ahead of promising Frenchman Loris Baz (Kawasaki, 1m30.757), world champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki, 1m30.863) and new factory Ducati signing David Guigliano (1m30.984).

All four riders eclipsed Laverty’s current lap record of 1m31.168, and weren’t far off the best ever WSBK lap around Phillip Island – 1m30.234, set by the now retired Spaniard Carlos Checa in 2013.

Laverty was riding the Suzuki for the first time around Phillip Island, after he was replaced in the factory Aprilia team by Italian Marco Melandri at the end of 2013.

Melandri (1m31.392) was fifth in the first session – as well as having the fastest bike down Gardner Straight – from teammate Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia, 1m31.468). Guintoli was also a race winner at Phillip Island in 2013.

World Superbike newcomer and reigning British champion Alex Lowes (Suzuki, 1m31.642) made an impressive Phillip Island debut in eighth, ahead of fellow Britons Leon Haslam (1m31.816) and Jonathan Rea (1m31.851) on the factory Hondas.

The fastest EVO machine was Niccolo Canepa’s Ducati Panigale 1199R in 11th position with a 1m32.204.

Of the new WSBK entrants, EBR (Erik Buell Racing) was well down the pack as Geoff May and Aaron Yates began dialling in the 1190Rx twin-cylinder machines, while Claudio Corti showed some late speed on his MV Agusta F4 RR to finish the session in 13th.

The second session will be held from 3:30-5:30pm this afternoon.

In World Supersport testing this morning, Turkey’s Kenan Sofuoglu was fastest with a 1m33.521 time on his Kawasaki. Australia’s Bryan Staring, who has just signed for Rivamoto Honda, was 15th quickest (1m35.775) while wild cards Billy McConnell (Triumph) and Ryan Taylor (Yamaha) were 18th and 21st on the morning timesheet.

The opening round of the Superbike World Championship will be held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit this weekend, 21-23 February.

Bike fans keen to save should book today with just two days to go on the deal of the decade – a $99 three-day general admission pass. The deal closes on Wednesday at 2:00pm local time from when gate prices come into play.

All children 15 and under, accompanied by an adult, are free. Trackside camping is $80 for four nights per adult, with children 15 and under, accompanied by an adult, free. Tickets are available now on www.worldsbk.com.au or by calling the hotline on 1300 728 007.