WSBK looks to 2017 after Rea tops final test

Kawasaki’s Rea and Sykes, and Ducati’s Davies and Melandri lead timesheets after week of testing at Jerez

2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon - Marco Melandri — 2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon – Marco Melandri – Images by GeeBee Images

World Superbike teams have been in test mode over the last two weeks with the first appearances by Eugene Laverty for Aprilia, Stefan Bradl for Honda and Marco Melandri for Ducati.

With five days of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain last week (Nov 21-25), and two days in Aragon for some squads the week prior, the leading WorldSBK teams are already preparing for season 2017 and the opening Yamaha Finance round at Phillip Island from February 24-26.

Kawasaki Racing Team, Grillini Racing Team, Althea BMW Racing Team, Honda WorldSBK Team, Milwaukee Aprilia World Superbike Team, Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team and Aruba.it Racing – Ducati were at Jerez last week, some teams for the whole week, others just for a couple of days.

With mixed weather conditions, teams were able to test various 2017 parts and settings in different types of conditions to gain an all-round work out.

2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez - Jonathan Rea — 2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez – Jonathan Rea – Images by GeeBee Images

Kawasaki Racing Team enjoyed four days of track time throughout the week, after sitting out day one in the rain. The team further developed its new Ninja ZX-10RR, after two days testing in Aragon the week prior, with Jonathan Rea consistently putting in the fastest times throughout the week.

Rea worked on transmission improvements as well as with new tyres and completed a couple of race simulations. Clocking the fastest times, the Northern Irishman proved he’s very much at one with his new Kawasaki.

2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez - Tom Sykes — 2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez – Tom Sykes – Images by GeeBee Images

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) had a contrasting week, after struggling on the first days. The Yorkshireman worked endlessly to alter his riding style for his new machine as well as comparing batteries from this season to the 2017 spec smaller batteries.

He also worked on different base setups for next season as well as comparing and re-evaluating changes he’d implemented from the first test in Aragon a week ago.

2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez - Jordi Torres — 2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez – Jordi Torres – Images by GeeBee Images

Althea BMW Racing Team had a solid two-day run on Monday and Tuesday, with Jordi Torres making huge comparisons using a new Fortis swingarm on his S 1000 RR.

Markus Reiterberger mainly worked on base setups.

2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon - Stefan Bradl — 2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon – Stefan Bradl – Images by GeeBee Images

Stefan Bradl (Honda World Superbike Team) worked alone at the beginning of the week, after his teammate Nicky Hayden had to rush home for last minute knee surgery, after an accident flat-track training between the Aragon and Jerez test.

The German WorldSBK rookie continued on the development he’d started the week prior in Aragon and was able to get a run in on Monday in the rain, gaining much needed tyre data in wet conditions.

2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon - Alex Lowes — 2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon – Alex Lowes – Images by GeeBee Images

With five bikes present at Jerez for the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team, the pair of Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark spent the week testing new tanks, swingarms and seat units on top of other new elements to their YZF-R1s.

It was only van der Mark´s second outing with the Yamaha team and an important week to form team relationships. Lowes was able to build on changes made throughout the season, in order to bring a stronger package with his fourth year for the team.

2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez - Eugene Laverty — 2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez – Eugene Laverty – Images by GeeBee Images

Milwaukee Aprilia made their full team debut last week at Jerez with Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori getting their first taste of the RSV4 Superbike.

Varied weather meant the pair were able to try the bike out in all types of conditions, and provided them with the opportunity to understand the whole package. Working on building team spirit as well as the bike itself, it’s clear the British squad will be a force in 2017.

2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez - Lorenzo Savadori — 2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez – Lorenzo Savadori – Images by GeeBee Images

At a circuit he dominated just months earlier, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) worked for the final three days on a new swingarm, as well as suspension setup, new electronics and new forks by Ohlins that will be on their 2017 bikes.

2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon - Chaz Davies — 2017 WorldSBK Test Aragon – Chaz Davies – Images by GeeBee Images

Teammate Marco Melandri shared the same testing plan, as he brings his mind-set back to being a full time racer. Both were able to set lap times close to Rea, who ended the days on top.

Grillini Racing Team duo Ayrton Badovini and Ondrej Jezek only utilised Jerez on Monday and Tuesday.

2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez - Ondrej Jezek — 2017 WorldSBK Test Jerez – Ondrej Jezek – Images by GeeBee Images

In a similar pattern to week start, rain hampered the final day of the Jerez test with little action seen on track, with not much data to be gained from a damp track.

The squads now head to Christmas break before a late January test in Europe and then the trip down under for the launch of the 2017 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship at Australia’s Phillip Island next February 24-26.

Tickets to the Yamaha Finance round are on sale now from Ticketek or www.worldsbk.com.au