The summer break is upon us but for some, that means testing in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Honda HRC ventured to the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours with Jake Dixon and Somkiat Chantra for a two-day test in sweltering conditions, with the pair put through their paces as they aim to make steps with the CBR1000RR-R SP machine ahead of the final four rounds of their rookie season.
Air temperatures in the middle of France hit a remarkable 30 degrees Celsius during Thursday’s action, with track temperatures peaking at around 65 degrees Celsius. Despite this, Dixon completed 69 laps of his test programme while Chantra completed 103 as they worked on the base setup of their machines while also building their knowledge of the circuit; it’s a track that neither has competed at before.
On Friday, the pair continued racking up the laps with Dixon completing 70 tours and Chantra a further 94, with the second day of action spent looking at setup comparisons and tests on the electronics and the suspension. Honda’s summer test programme is not over, as the team will head to Estoril next week for a further two-day test.
Reflecting on the test after completing a total of 197 laps, Thai rider Chantra said: “This was my first time riding at Magny-Cours, so I was able to spend a lot of time learning the track while also working on the bike. We tried many different things with the setup, including electronics and suspension, over the two days and were able to collect a lot of useful information. This is important because during a race weekend we don’t have so much time to test different solutions, while here we could really focus on this kind of work. Overall, I’m happy with how the test went. I was able to improve my lap time session by session as I learned the circuit, and on the first day I set my fastest time in the afternoon heat, which was very positive.”
Dixon added: “I like the Magny-Cours track. It’s a little difficult to learn, but it’s a nice one; the main thing over these two days was the heat – it was really hot out there. We tried quite a few things, basically working to find a good base setup for me. At the end of the day, it’s a test – there are no prizes to be won – so we just focused on working our way through the test plan the team had prepared and gathering as much information as possible. We’ve been busy, but I ended the test happy. Now we have another two days at Estoril, where again I’ll need to learn the track while continuing to work on the bike setup. The goal is to keep working, build step by step.”
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