The official Kawasaki, Ducati and Yamaha which will participate in the Superbike World Championship next year had their first direct confrontation this Wednesday on the MotorLand circuit. A second day of testing is planned for this Thursday, which should allow us to have a slightly more precise idea of the competitiveness of the Panigale V4R against the ZX-10RR and the R1.
Jonathan Rhea did not leave it to anyone else this Wednesday to achieve the best time, and he even came within 0.3 of the track record in Superbike. In 1.49'668, he preceded alex lowes and his Yamaha in 1.51'157, while the Welshman Chaz Davies brought his Ducati in 1.51'180 just 0.023 behind the Englishman's R1, a surprising performance, but still a second and a half behind the leading Northern Irishman.
Kawasaki:
Johnny Rea completed a total of 72 laps on this first day, and his new teammate Leon Haslam 67. Kawasaki is entering a new model of the ZX-10RR for the 2019 season, produced in 500 units, with new connecting rods in Pankl titanium as standard. Its engine takes 600 revolutions more than the previous one. “This machine is only a small evolution ", Explain Johnny Rea. “However, we need to try a few parts to see if they work well. In November we have this test in Aragon and then another in Jerez, but they will be very quiet, just to get used to the new machine. We will only carry out real performance tests in January 2019. The most important will be the Phillip Island test (before the race weekend of February 22-24), where all the teams and motorcycles will be present ". Other tests are planned for January 23 and 24 in Jerez, then January 27 and 28 in Portimao.
For his new world teammate Leon Haslam, who are " I rode for several days at Motorland in a Supermotard with the new members of my team. I couldn't wait to get on my Ninja ZX-10RR. I was like a kid entering a candy store for the first time! I want to approach things calmly but at the same time I'm really excited to get started. »
Guim Roda, boss of Provec, service provider for the KRT, “ The main goal at MotorLand is to welcome Leon Haslam. This is Leon's first time riding the bike, we see his potential and start working to adapt the bike in the best possible way to his needs. Everyone expects Johnny Rea to continue winning at the same level as he has so far, and it's not easy. The others evolve and progress. Ducati arrives with a new motorcycle, BMW too. Honda is trying to organize everything to be stronger, Yamaha will certainly be even more competitive. So we have to reinvent ourselves and find a way for Johnny to improve his possibilities, which is not easy. »
Yamaha:
alex lowes et Michael van der Mark represent again this year the colors of the Yamaha YZF-R1-Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team which has progressed enormously this year compared to 2017. During this first day of testing in Aragon, Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes evaluated components keys to the chassis, worked on the suspension with Öhlins and used new electronic equipment. Lowes completed a total of 76 laps and van der Mark 72.
According to Alex Lowes' statements to bikesportnews.com, « We know how good the bike can be, we proved it on many circuits in 2018, sometimes me, sometimes van der Mark.
“But our goal for 2019 must still be ambitious on every track, which we couldn't have done this year. Yamaha put a lot of pressure on themselves with the new second team next year. I think it can be positive for us. Two other good riders on the R1s should help the bike progress. The ball is now in Yamaha's court, with three race-winning riders in 2018 and a World Champion on board. »
For the Giansanti Racing Team (GRT) which arrives in Superbike with Sandra Cortese et Marco Melandri, his debut on the R1 will take place during the WSBK tests in Jerez on November 26 and 27. Under contract with Ducati until December 31, Melandri will not be allowed to make any statements, particularly comparing the two machines.
Ducati:
On the side of the Aruba.it Racing team – Ducati, the new recruit for 2019 Alvaro Bautista was conspicuous by his absence, monopolized this weekend by his last MotoGP Grand Prix at Aspar (Angel Nieto team). Chaz Davies was therefore the only official Ducati rider at MotorLand Aragon to test the 4 cc Panigale V998R whose displacement reduction is obtained by retaining the bore of 3 mm, while the stroke was reduced to 81 mm thanks to a new forged steel crankshaft which rests on half-moons acting as bearings and which retains the 48,4° offset arrangement of the crank pins. This V70 is equipped with an electronic box based on the use of Bosch's 4-axis inertial platform (6D IMU – Inertial Measurement Unit). Chaz Davies was supported in Aragon this Wednesday by Michael Ruben Rinaldi, entered under the colors of Barni Racing. Davies completed a total of 61 laps and Rinaldi 74.
According to Paolo ciabatti (Sports director), " The move to a four-cylinder engine was natural because, to be competitive on the road, we need a four-cylinder like our main competitors. We had as a basis the engine designed for the GP15, which also turned out to be a compact and powerful basis for a production engine. »
“The GP15 engine was the first to be designed under the supervision of Gigi Dall'Igna in MotoGP and it is a good basis from which to develop a very good V4 for a production motorcycle. I think going from two cylinders to this one happened naturally. The twin is a very good solution for many of our other models, but in order to offer consumers the most efficient motorcycle, we had to opt for a V4. It's a V4, but a Desmodromic V4. »
…and so it begins: first lap out on the Panigale V4 R by @chazdavies7! Sleeves rolled up, we're ready to WORK (and just a bit excited 😜✊🏻)#ArubaRacing #WorldSBK #ducati #forzaducati pic.twitter.com/Nc89DK6ajM
- Aruba.it Racing - Ducati (@ArubaRacing) November 14, 2018
Results of the first day of testing:
1-Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1.49.668
2-Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) 1.51.157
3-Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1.51.180
4-Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) 1.51.852
5-Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team – WorldSBK) 1.51.479
6-Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team) 1.51.656
Reference times:
Test record: 1'49.319 by Chaz Davies (Ducati) in 2017
Lap record: 1'50.421 by Chaz Davies (Ducati) in 2016
Honda:
Leon Camier et Ryuichi Kiyonari will represent the colors of the world's leading manufacturer next year, with equipment from HRC, maintained by Moriwaki and transported by Althea. The team was not in Aragon this Wednesday, as the manager explained Midori Moriwaki to Gordon Ritchie in Bike Sport News.
Photo below: Midori Moriwaki © motogp.com / Dorna
According to Midori, “ We will try to do at least one test somewhere, but we haven't decided where and when yet. But we will definitely do at least one test. If we can do it before the winter testing ban and if we're lucky, maybe we'll ride twice, but realistically, once. As you know, there is not much time to prepare the motorcycles. Next year we will try to participate in the tests with everyone. I'm thinking of Jerez at the end of January. We will try to join in. »
“I’m starting a new business. From my past experience, if everything is based in Japan, it's really difficult. We are not like Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki; these great manufacturers. I am creating a company in Europe, based in Prague in the Czech Republic. »
Just to clarify, you will be the official Honda team for WorldSBK?
“It’s my project but also a joint project with Honda. I don't know what they call it but it seems to be an official team I think. We work with both sides of Honda, Honda Motor and HRC. I talk to both sides about different issues. All technical engineering data belongs to HRC. Apart from technical matters, everything is up to Honda Motor. »
Who will do what in the team?
“Logistics etc. are controlled by Althea, but I have been running a racing team for over 20 years. My God, I'm getting old! I understand how to run a racing team. We don’t just put the name, I manage everything. I know what we're talking about. I think it will be pretty fair on both sides. There will be a mix of Althea and Moriwaki mechanics, but not just Italian and Japanese, it will be an international team. It's gonna be fun ! For me, it's normal, it's good. »
What about the suspension and brakes in WorldSBK, because in JSB you use Kayaba suspension?
“Yes, in Japan for Moriwaki, but in WorldSBK for the bikes of Kiyo and Leon, it will be Öhlins. For the factory bikes we race with Nissin, while in Japan the Superbike uses Brembo. »
Why did you want to join WorldSBK specifically?
“I understand that motorsport is not easy at all, but it is also essential to move people's hearts. If you don't give up, you will get there one day. If you make excuses, you will never achieve anything. It's not easy, for many reasons, but it's worth trying to do what we can do. World Superbike next year will be a very different season, I think, because everyone is coming back, Ducati and BMW, Kawasaki is still very strong and Yamaha is coming back too. »
“The situation will be very different, which will be beneficial for the environment of the motorcycle markets, because WorldSBK is for production motorcycles. Hopefully the global motorcycle environment, not just for racing, will be good for all countries. I hope there will be more motorcycle fans everywhere like before. »
Photos © worldsbk.com, motogp.com, Dorna, Kawasaki, Ducati, Gee Bee Images
