Today, at the 2.894-mile, 15 turn Autodromo Interenacional do Algarve located in Portimao, Portugal, the World Superbike Series, having just finished up its 2009 season, came right back to life as teams and riders began testing for 2010. New riders joining the circuit and different riders in the series on new bikes were the big story of the day at the opulent circuit.

When all was said and done, it was Jonathan Rea and his same Hannspree Ten Kate Honda who lapped the quickest in the dazzling Portuguese sunshine, the Brit lapping at 1:42.156. Juts behind was Ducati Xerox's Michael Fabrizio at 1:43.795.

A new rider to the WSB contingent was third fastest as newly crowned World Supersport Champion Cal Crutchlow lapped the track at 1:42.795 on the factory Yamaha R1 in his first World Superbike outing with the team. Then came Ducati Xerox's Noriyuki Haga, the Japanese rider still stinging after losing the World Superbike Championship to Ben Spies on Sunday. Fifth fastest was new Suzuki man Leon Haslam, the Brit riding the Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a best of 1:43.3, just a fraction ahead of Aprlia's Max Biaggi.

Then came two-time World Superbike Champion James Toseland, the Brit starting his Yamaha World Superbike career off today. Toseland was a second off Crutchlow's best lap with a 1:43.7.

German Max Neukirchner had his first outing on the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR and he went well as he returns from injury, posting the eighth fastest time.

Leon Camier was next on the factory Aprilia, leading Kawasaki-mounted Joan Lascorz, Althea Ducati-mounted Carlos Checa and DFX Ducati's Javier Fores. Tom Sykes was next in his first outing on the factory Kawasaki, ahead of the returning Regis Laconi.

Not all riders had transponders fitted to their machines, therefore the times below are not official, but gathered from a number of sources. The tests continue tomorrow.

Superbike Times

1. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:42.156

2. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) 1:42.362

3. Cal Crutchlow (YamahaP) 1:42.795

4. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) 1:43.098

5. Leon Haslam (Suzuki) 1:43.3

6. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 1:43.4

7. James Toseland (Yamaha) 1:43.7

8. Max Neukirchner (Honda) 1:43.810

9. Leon Camier (Aprilia) 1:43.9

10. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) 1:43.902

11. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1:43.951

12. Javier Fores (Ducati) 1:44.413

13. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:45.5

14. Regis Laconi (Ducati) 1:46.458