Rea happy with Assen test
Added on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Rea happy with Assen test
Jonathan Rea was back on the Castrol Honda this week as he completed a two-day test at Assen, as he works towards a return to World Superbikes next weekend.
Rea has not raced in the World Superbike championship since breaking his arm and wrist in a warm-up crash at Misano in Italy in June but the 24-year-old Northern Irishman was able to give his injuries a thorough work out in Assen and he declared himself happy with the results.
“We didn’t get to test very much [on Tuesday] because of the weather, which restricted us to a patchy track this morning before it got wet again,” said Rea. “But even those laps were useful to find a good wet setting which we have lacked this season.
“[Monday] was really good, though, and I was so happy to get back on the bike again. The lap time was quite OK, which was a good confidence booster, and my wrist felt strong.
“My body certainly knows I’ve done a lot of riding, so I’ll concentrate on some conditioning work over the next week or two. Bu t I’ve really enjoyed riding again and now I can’t wait for Nurburgring, which is somewhere I’ve had some success in the past.”
Rea was joined at Assen by Castrol Honda team-mate, Ruben Xaus, who is still recovering from back injuries sustained in a race one crash at Brno in the Czech Republic last month.
The 32-year-old Spaniard was still suffering some discomfort from his back and was only able to ride in short bursts. With rain at Assen today, Xaus opted to sit out day two of the test.
Also testing with the Castrol Honda team was Alex Lowes, who replaced the injured Rea both at Brno and the last World Superbike round at Silverstone in the UK at the end of July. The 20-year-old from Lincoln rode both days at Assen, completing many laps and testing new settings on the Castrol Honda Fireblade.
