Walker smashes Almeria lap record.

Chris Walker has successfully completed a two-day test at Almeria in Spain. The HM Plant Ducati star recorded a superb time of 1min 36.9secs, which eclipsed all the other Superbike riders at the Andalucia circuit.

"I've put in a lot of laps over the past two days and feel really at home with HM Plant Ducati and my new team," explained Walker. "I have definitely found a good base setting from which to fine-tune everything in time for the first round of the championship next month. The whole package is awesome and I am delighted with how my ankle is standing up to the physical pressure it has been subjected to over the past week."

Walker's time - set on Dunlop race tyres - was over half-a-second inside the fastest lap recorded on qualifying rubber by factory Ducati rider and former World Champion Troy Bayliss during a pre-season test last winter.

"Chris has once again confirmed his status as one of the leading contenders for this year's World Superbike series," declared Team Manager Colin Wright. "His performance was very encouraging and he looked extremely comfortable on the HM Plant Ducati. I would also like to thank Dunlop for the excellent work they have done with Chris."

HM Plant Ducati was originally scheduled to complete a third day of testing at Almeria but the team will now return to the UK after making such good progress at the Spanish circuits.

However, it wasn't all good news for the team with James Topseland having to withdraw from the test [see separate story].

Also present for HM Plant was Juan Kinnish, the winner of the Ducati S4 Challenge, who had a successful try-out on the Ducati over five 10-and 15-minute test sessions. This ride was part of his prize for winning the national championship in 2002.