Jerez to Host First Collective Test of 2016
The majority of the grid set to take part in two day test in Andalucia.
Preparations for the 2016 WorldSBK season go up a gear this week as a two day private test at the Circuito de Jerez is set to take place from Tuesday to Wednesday. Most of the teams and riders from the World Superbike paddock will be in action, as well as many protagonists from WorldSSP and STK1000.
The test will prove the perfect occasion for teams to finalise their 2016 preparations, with both refinement and further development on the cards for many as the enforced winter break comes to an end. Although some teams have already been able to get out on track in Vallelunga and Portimão, this week’s test will see the debut of some new faces, and will be the first test of the year on a track at which the riders will later be lining up to race, although in October.
Among the riders present in Jerez for the test will be the Kawasaki duo of Sykes and 2015 Champion Rea, new Pata Yamaha line-up Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli, Aruba.it Racing pair Davies and Giugliano, Honda World Superbike team Nicky Hayden and Michael van der Mark and Barni Racing rider Xavi Forés, as well as Sylvain Barrier and new Pedercini teammate Saaed Al Sulaiti. The Qatari rider is not the only new face to debut in Jerez, with the test also allowing Milwaukee BMW combo Josh Brookes and Karel Abraham a chance to take to the WorldSBK stage for the first time in 2016. Althea BMW riders Jordi Torres and Markus Reiterberger will be notable absences, having opted instead to test recently at Vallelunga.
Amongst the WorldSSP stars on track will be reigning Champion Kenan Sofuoglu and new arrival Randy Krummenacher, set to partner the Turkish rider in 2016 at Team Pucetti. Title rival Jules Cluzel and his MV Reparto Corse teammate Lorenzo Zanetti will also be on track, along with new Orelac Racing duo Nacho Calero and Malaysian Zulfahmi Khairuddin, another new name from the MotoGP™ paddock.
Track action will be from 10am to 6pm, allowing the almost 30 riders present the chance to best prepare for the first race weekend of the year in Phillip Island at the end of February. With just over a month to go, the countdown begins now!
