Good first test at Valencia for Althea Racing duo of Terol and Baiocco
The team’s STK1000 new pairing of De Rosa and Salvadori were also on track.
Team Althea Racing has concluded its first winter tests at the ‘Ricardo Tormo’ Circuit of Valencia yesterday. It was an encouraging debut for Genesio Bevilacqua’s team, who will compete in 2015 with four bikes: two in the World Superbike series, with riders Matteo Baiocco and Nicolas Terol, and another two machines in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, with Raffaele De Rosa and Luca Salvadori. During these two days of testing at Valencia the riders could try the Ducati 1199 Panigale R EVO Canepa rode in 2014 before heading to Jerez de la Frontera on 24 November with the new Panigale R in its 2015 configuration, to carry out further tests before the winter ban kick starts.
The four riders had a solid start of the test and immediately found the right feeling with the Team by carrying out a considerable amount of work with the bike in dry conditions, despite the strong winds blowing at times at the track. After day one, which riders used primarily to get to grips with the bike and the track, today they picked up the pace and were all able to record some interesting times. Terol and Baiocco lapped in 1’35.2 and 1’35.4 respectively aboard the EVO-spec 1199 Panigale R. Both riders were happy about their first outing with the Italian squad.
Nico Terol: “During these two days I’ve got to know the team and immediately feel part of a family. This is very important for me because we all need to work together to achieve the same goal. I came here with the strong desire to do well, and my approach with the bike has been very good. I immediately felt at ease, I really like the Panigale and lap after lap I was able to improve. I’m pleased because there was solid progression and especially today we had good pace. I’m getting on well with the team and there is great communication between us.”
Matteo Baiocco: “I’ve only ridden the EVO once this year so I had to get back into the swing of things here. It’s been four years since I was last at Valencia so I also needed to get to grips with that. The team is new to me but we’ve been getting on very well. We’ve completed important work here without focusing on times but taking things step by step without rushing. I’m pleased with these two days in which I’ve been quite fast. Now we’ll go to Jerez to test the bike in its 2015 configuration and where we’ll have lots to work on.”
