Rea fastest in WorldSBK testing at Jerez
Not just fastest in WorldSBK, but skinned the entire MotoGP field as well!Kawasaki's double world superbike champion Jonathan Rea has stunned the road racing world by setting the fastest time in a combined WorldSBK and MotoGP test session at Jerez in Spain from November 21-25.
Rea, riding the up-spec ZX-10RR for the first time, was in scintillating form as he lapped the Jerez layout in a best lap of 1:38.721 – using a qualifying tyre – ahead of MotoGP riders Alvaro Bautista (Ducati, 1:38.946). Rea's WorldSBK contemporaries Chaz Davies (Ducati) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki, 1:39.461) were also on the pace in third and fifth respectively, sandwiching MotoGP rider Loris Baz (Ducati).
Italian Marco Melandri, making a return to WorldSBK as Davies' teammate, was the next best of the production-based bikes in eighth overall with a best lap of 1:39.694.
Australia's MotoGP rider Jack Miller (Honda) was also in action, placing 14th overall and ninth in MotoGP.
As well as pulling out some hot single laps, Rea also completed a race simulation at Jerez – which would have placed him on the podium at the 2016 MotoGP round!
However, he was even more pleased with the 1:39.5 lap time he set on race tyres than his 1:38.721 on a qualifier.
"It has been a very successful test," said Rea. "We did two race simulations on Thursday that we were very happy with. We can go into the winter in great shape and with a lot of confidence for next season.
"Having the new Ninja ZX-10RR has let us fix some of our weaker points, as our engine is a little bit stronger than before, with some extra RPM. That is always an added bonus. We can be optimistic for 2017. Looking back on 2016 it has been an incredible year to finish off here with a successful test I want to say thanks to all my team and all my crew, everyone inside KRT and KHI for these last few days.”
The combined WorldSBK times were as follows:
- Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team): 1.38.721
- Chaz Davies (Aruba It.Racing- Ducati): 1.39.116
- Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team): 1.39.461
- Marco Melandri (Aruba It.Racing- Ducati): 1.39.694
- Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse): 1.40.693
- Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official Team): 1.40.985
- Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia Team): 1.41.048
- Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Team): 1.41.328
- Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia Team): 1.41.692
- Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Team): 1.41.830
With five days of testing at Jerez circuit, and two days at Aragon for some squads the week prior, the leading WorldSBK teams are already in full swing ahead of the opening Yamaha Finance round of the 2017 season at Phillip Island from February 24-26.
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