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With the new regulations for 2018 soon coming into play, Milwaukee Aprilia duo of Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori were able to begin to understand the first steps needed for the new season, as they spent two days at Circuito de Jerez.

Working with new members of the team, the duo were able to have two solid days on board the RSV4 machines and Irish rider Laverty was able to begin to feel even more comfortable. Putting in the third fastest time on their closing day – a time of 1.40.55 – Laverty was testing out the pace with the new rev limits, but seemed to make some steps with the rear grip he struggled with throughout 2017.

Laverty explains his two day test: “The test first of all was about exploring the new rev limits. We had to understand how to use the gearbox differently, which is going to make the rider busier as we need to shift more. I can’t say much more about the lower revs but we will just have to live with it, as every manufacturer will.

Today we’ve also focused on the issue I had for a lot of 2017 which was getting the bike to push on the rear tyre more so we can stop, turn and accelerate better. We made some big steps on Tuesday, and I was surprised how extreme we had to go. We made progress though and suddenly I had rear grip, which gives me confidence because it confirms what we thought about the bike and the direction we need to follow.

I wish we had a third day as always so we could keep progressing, but it’s been a very useful two days. We still have to chase down those guys at the front, and Aprilia understand what’s needed on the engine and chassis side of things. We understand the direction needed, it will be the second year with the team and the same bike and we can only get stronger.”

On the other side of the garage, Lorenzo Savadori – who is yet to re-sign for the team – was able to have a strong two days for the team, as he was also working with the new rev limits. With a lot of progress made, the Italian is beginning to feel more confident with his bike.

Savadori explained: ““It was a very busy test for us. We completed a lot of laps on each day, and we tried a few new settings and directions for 2018. The plan when we started was to improve my comfort and rhythm on the bike, so that I can use it fully and get all the performance from it.

For sure we have lost a little speed with the lower RPM, but so has everyone else in the paddock. Aprilia have made a lot of changes and the bike is quite different to ride, but we have made good work with the RSV4-RF and we should be confident. We worked a lot on rear grip too, we tried two opposite directions to evaluate and this was very important.

There is still a lot of data to analyse, but I am happy with how this test has been and we should always be positive. The team have been great this year and of course we will all work very over the winter.”

Enjoy all the highlights from day two at Jerez, as well as exclusive interviews, all with the WorldSBK VideoPass.