Worx Suzuki complete Portimao test
Added on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Hill heads out for another lap in the Algarve.
Worx Suzuki completed their three-day test at Portimao yesterday as they prepare for the 2010 British Superbike championship.
With a bigger operation this season, running both Tommy Hill and Yukio Kagayama in the championship this season, the rain-drenched test in Portugal provided the team with an ideal opportunity to test their new operations ahead of the upcoming season.
There was little interest in lap times, with the soaked track making conditions difficult but the test did provide plenty of opportunity to try out the new suspension and electronics systems on the GSX-R.
“We’ve completed a lot of preparatory work that we had to get out of the way, putting together some good base settings with the suspension and electronics,” said Hill. “We’ve also been trying some different clutches and different engine braking systems. It’s been busy. Now I’m looking forward to Cartagena and meeting up with the rest of the BSB riders.”
“I’m very happy to be back with the team and this has been helpful as a lead-up to the test at Cartegena,” added Kagayama.”There are many parts which are specific to the Crescent Suzuki - different to my bike from last year - so it’s been helpful coming here to get a feel for the bike. Now I go back to Japan for a short time before coming back with my family - we’re really looking forward to a year living in England”
Team manager Jack Valentine was also happy with the progress made over the three days despite the less than idea conditions.
“It’s been a successful shakedown,” he claimed. “We’re a much bigger team this year with some new personnel, so this test has been a great opportunity to get everyone together and to gel as a team.
“For Yukio, it’s been an introduction to the Crescent bike and the Pirelli control tyres as used in BSB. Tommy and Yukio have also been working on getting base settings for the new Öhlins suspension and the updated Motec electronics package we’re using this year. The rain has compressed our schedule but we were still able to run through many settings and we’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made.”
