Max Biaggi, Eugene Laverty, Marco Melandri, and several other World Superbike riders took to the track today for the first day of private testing at Portimao.
The Aprilia Alitalia team of Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty, Chaz Davies of the ParkinGO Aprilia team, Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team, Ayrton Badovini and Michel Fabrizio of the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK team, and Leon Camier of the Crescent Suzuki team were all present for the test. Alistair Seeley also rode at Portimao in place of the injured John Hopkins for the Suzuki team.
There were no official timekeepers at today's test, but unofficial times gave Haslam the top spot. Haslam was followed by Melandri, Badovini, and Biaggi.
The World Superbike riders will be back on the track tomorrow and Wednesday.
The World Superbike series also announced the official testing dates for 2012. The WSBK will enforce a winter testing ban this year so riders will have to take advantage of the time they have.
Here's the 2012 official testing schedule.
Phillip Island, Monday 20/Tuesday 21 February (pre-race)
Imola, Monday 2nd April (post-race)
Motorland Aragon, Monday 2nd July (post-race)
Moscow Raceway, Wednesday 22nd August (pre-race)
