Lucas Mahias and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing completed two days of testing at the Barcelona-Catalonia circuit in Spain on March 25-26. For the French driver, it was the last test, before the official tests World SBK and WorldSS which will take place at the Motorland Aragon circuit on March 4 and 5, that is to say the Monday and Tuesday preceding the first race weekend…
In Barcelona, where all the 2022 Superbike riders were present, the weather was only favorable on the first day, during which Lucas Mahias and its technical team were able to carry out all the work planned. Unfortunately, during a fall in which he fortunately did not suffer any physical after-effects, Lucas seriously damaged his Ninja, which prevented him from completing the second and final practice session. His best lap was 1'41, seventh overall.
The second day started on a dry track and in the morning session, the Frenchman set a time of 1'41"744. The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider would certainly have made progress in the afternoon, but during the second session, rain wet the Catalan track, forcing the rider and technicians to finish testing early.
However, these were two positive days, during which the tricolor and his team were mainly able to work on the suspensions and the compatriot of Loris Baz as Chris Ponsson has once again shown that it is comfortable with the new supplier Öhlins. The next meeting is set for official testing on April 4 and 5 at Motorland Aragon in Spain.
Lucas Mahias: “ I feel ready for the start of the championship«
« Even though we weren't able to take advantage of the last session, they were two important days, during which we were able to continue the work started during the previous tests in Misano » commented the boss Manuel Puccetti. " Yesterday afternoon, Lucas seriously damaged his motorcycle but our technicians, working until late, were able to repair it, allowing our pilot to complete this morning's shift. The timing results were good, as well as the work done, so I think we are ready for the official tests and for the following first round of Aragon ».
The final word goes to the pilot: “ yesterday's fall delayed us because we were working very well and the times were decreasing. But beyond the fall, and the rain which interrupted our tests today, we return from Barcelona knowing that we are on the right track. My feeling with the bike has improved a lot and I feel ready for the start of the championship. I thank my team who worked hard to allow me to be on track also on the second day ».
WSBK Tests Catalonia J2: times
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TR), Yamaha, 1:40.571
2. Alvaro Bautista (E), Ducati: 1:40.952
3. Iker Lecuona (E), Honda, 1:41.033
4. Jonathan Rea (GB), Kawasaki, 1:41.168
5th Garrett Gerloff (USA), Yamaha, 1:41.320
6th Michael Rinaldi (I), Ducati, 1:41.610
7th Scott Redding (GB), 1:41.636
8th Xavi Virgin (E), Honda, 1:41.724
9 Philipp Öttl (D), Ducati, 1:41.735
10 Lucas Mahias (F), Kawasaki, 1:41.744
11 Andrea Locatelli (I), Yamaha, 1:41.946
12 Alex Lowes (GB), Kawasaki, 1:41.999
13 Kohta Nozane (J), Yamaha, 1:42.509
14 Ilya Mikhalchik (UA), BMW, 1:42.763
15 Eugene Laverty (IRL), BMW, 1:43.305
16 Loris Baz (F), BMW, 1:43.761
17 Luca Bernardi (I), Ducati, 1:43.823
18 Oliver König (CZ), Kawasaki, 1:44.855
19 Loris Cresson (B), Kawasaki, 1:45.400
20 Hafizh Syahrin (MAL), Honda, 1:45.539
21. Tati Mercado (RA), Honda, did not race
