News

The third day of private testing at Jerez de la Frontera was held in dry conditions, despite the thick fog welcoming the riders at the track early in the morning. Given that rain is expected on Friday, the Kawasaki Racing Team, Pata Honda and Crescent Suzuki squads decided not to take a day off and to continue their development work with all their riders while the conditions were favourable.

Rain started falling with ten minutes go, taking away a chance for the riders to go for a quick lap attempt before the end of track time. 

The Ducati World Superbike Team was back on track for their first of three days of testing, but did not appear on the timesheets as they chose not to use transponders on their bikes, unlike MV Agusta Reparto Corse Leon Camier on their F4 RR. He was joined by Jules Cluzel and Lorenzo Zanetti aboard their F3 675 Supersport machines.

After the morning and afternoon’s sessions, the quickest World Superbike rider was Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea, who lapped in 1’40.738 on qualifying tyres. The Ulsterman was only 0.008secs slower than yesterday’s fastest lap set by Alex Lowes (Crescent Suzuki), who missed a chance for a fast lap before due to the worsening of the weather conditions. Alex finished third quickest in the end behind new teammate Randy De Puniet, who was on a qualifying tyre provided by Pirelli.

2013 Champion Tom Sykes was fourth fastest ahead of an improving Michael van der Mark and the other Pata Honda rider, and reigning Champion, Sylvain Guintoli. Two more 1199 Panigale R machines were also on track today, the Superstock bikes fielded by the EAB Racing Team and ridden by Dutchman Tony Coveña and Italian Fabio Massei. 

Day 3, Jerez: P1- Jonathan Rea 1’40.738 P2 Randy De Puniet 1’41.296 P3 Alex Lowes 1’41.321 P4 Tom Sykes 1’41.335 P5 Michael van der Mark 1’41.437 P6 Sylvain Guintoli 1’41.813 P7 Jules Cluzel (WSS) 1’43.958 P8 Fabio Massei (STK1000) 1’44.633 P9 Leon Camier 1’44.905 P10 Lorenzo Zanetti (WSS) 1’45.283 P11 Tony Covena (STK1000) 1’46.236