TESTING TIMES
Christmas? Nah, next year has already been cracking, with the first of the pre-season tests held at Aragon circuit in Spain. So, with the biggest teams in the paddock attending, what did you miss?
As you’d expect, the reigning champ (x4) Jonathan Rea looked to have started 2019 in very much the same way he finished this season; on a tweaked and updated version of the Kawasaki ZX10-RR he lapped 1.5 seconds quicker than anyone else. Yep, 1.5 seconds. A lap. When the guy is already wiping the floor, does he really need that 600 rev increase that the stock version has been given? Nope. It wasn’t all about Rea though as British champion Leon Haslam also got his first run out on the new bike. After a number of seasons running no electronics, coupled with different tyres and a vastly different chassis setup it was a learning day for Haslam – which explains the lack of pace compared to his teammate.
Don’t look too closely into this though, as his fastest lap placed him in front of some strong riders, meaning it looks very promising for next year. He’s been quick before in WSBK finishing runner up, and it’s a long off-season where Kawasaki have a very comprehensive test package.
Let’s face it though; the talk of the test was the brand new Ducati V4. Chaz Davies got his first taste and went as fast at the Yamaha of Alex Lowes on its first proper outing. IT’S FIRST OUTING. Okay, it’s still a fair margin from Rea, but on the previous Panigale R’s first outing it was three seconds off the pace, so this bodes well… maybe those wings do work after all. Swapping from the low revving twin to the new V4 took a bit of getting used to, but Davies showed just how much effort has been put in by the Bologna factory by finishing the test in third position. Chaz was the sole Aruba Ducati rider at the test as well, as MotoGP exile and possible 2019 title challenger Alvaro Bautista was busy MotoGP-ing. With the input of Davies, Bautista and newly promoted wonder kid Michael Rinaldi at the next test, the new Ducati should hopefully be able to take a challenge to Kawasaki from the off.
The grid is starting to look pretty tasty as well, with more bums going on slightly better looking seats for ’19. Tom Sykes and BMW wonder boy (oh, and European Superstock 1000 champion) Markus Reiterberger, have joined Shaun Muir as SMR makes a swap to BMW machinery. Reports suggest the renewed S1000RR is big improvement, so with two top quality riders and increased support from the factory, it puts them in a very strong position for the coming season – expect much more than what the previous Althea squad received.
And then there’s the new GRT Yamaha squad, formed of questionable spectacle wearer Marco Melandri and newly crowned Supersport champion Sandro Cortese. A solid pairing coupled with an extra two Yamahas on the grid can only help with gathering interest from the factory, so with double the data, those Yamahas of Alex Lowes and Michael Van der Mark in the Crescent squad should have a helping hand as well.
Oh, and let’s not forget that Honda dropped a bombshell in the paddock by sacking the Dutch team of Ten Kate, replacing them with a Moriwaki outfit. With serious backing from HRC and 16 years since the Honda factory were last active in World Superbikes, it shows how determined they are in turning what has been a disastrous few years for the Fireblade marque around. Keeping Camier is a great shout and although the factory will be hoping for a mid-2000s Kiyo that dominated British Superbikes, his results in Japan haven’t been great. But then again, if employing a Japanese rider brings HRC back to the championship and gets them ‘Blades back up there, I’m all for it. Whether they’ll have an answer for Rea though? Hmm, wouldn’t put my money on it.