From a press release issued by Aprilia:

TEST SESSION AT JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA/2nd DAY

SHANE BYRNE AT HIS DEBUT ON THE RSCUBE

JEREZ – After the heavy rain that spoiled yesterday’s test session, today the weather was much better. Even if the track was still wet, Shane Byrne made his debut on the RS Cube. Despite two small sliding (crashes) due to the wet track, the 26 years old rider made 62 laps with good results: becoming familiar with the RS Cube was the most important thing to him.

Shane has been impressed by the RS Cube: “I was riding at 12,000 rpm and I was thinking that the bike was incredibly fast. Than I realised that I had extra 4500 rpm at my disposal! I opened the gas and I discovered that the Cube has much more power and an incredible potential in power, torque and acceleration. That’s amazing, this bike is really fast!”

While Shane Byrne was riding on the Cube for the first time, Marcellino Lucchi, the Aprilia test rider, was riding the new bike that will be used next season.

Lucchi made a lot of laps testing the new material, so the aim was to make as many laps as possible.

Today was an interesting test session also for the 250cc rider Randy De Puniet. In this occasion he could test the new material tested in Valencia immediately after the GP. The results were very good as we can see from his best lap time 1:45.1. Tomorrow it’s the turn of Poggiali: he will test the new material too.

A good work also for Ui with his 250 “kit” and Locatelli with the 125cc of the LCR team.

Tuesday’s testing lap times:

Shane Byrne (Aprilia MGP) 1:46.7 62 laps

Randy De Puniet (250) 1:45.1 50 laps

Manuel Poggiali (250) 1:46.4 60 laps

Youichi Ui (250) 1:47.6 60 laps

Roberto Locatelli (125) 1:48.6 60 laps