WSBK Tests Jerez J1: Rea absent, Kawasaki without new features, Honda makes its choices and surprises in WSS

The first day of testing in Jerez for WSBK but also for Supersport ended this Wednesday with a few surprises which deserve some attention. Thus, Jonathan Rea skipped the exercise, saving himself for the next day, leaving his teammate Alex Lowes to dominate the timesheet with a ZX-10R with discreet new features. Meanwhile, Honda confirmed its desire to have a CBR triple R fully equipped by in-house suppliers. As for the Supersport, it was responsible for bringing a touch of exoticism…

While his teammate Jonathan Rhea was absent on Wednesday and thus saved a day of testing on its legally fixed annual capital, alex lowes therefore set the best time in the first Superbike outing at Jerez. The pilot of 31 years remained just ahead of the Honda factory riders Xavi Verge et Iker Lecuona.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m first or not,” said Lowes à speedweek on his performance. “ We have some new parts and have evaluated them very carefully in comparison tests. We tried the new Showa forks, now I can feel the front wheel better and feel more comfortable on the brakes. Electronics have been updated for traction control, power delivery and engine braking. The speed then comes by itself, I only rode for half a day. We don't have a new bike, so no massive changes. But if you improve a lot of details, it can mean a big step forward in the end » said the half-witted Englishman.

Virgin et Iker Lecuona had a very productive day on their respective CBR 1000 RR-Rs. As we saw in December, the official motorcycles of the HRC team seem to say goodbye definitively to Öhlins and Brembo to focus on a 100% Japanese cycle part with Showa providing its suspensions and Nissin the complete braking system.

Virgin achieved the best time of the HRC clan with a 1'40.342, a tenth of his best time from the December test, while his teammate lecuona, already recovered from a broken finger on his right hand, finished third with a best reference of 1'40.495. He is 60 thousandths away from the best time he achieved a month and a half ago during his premiere with the CBR.

Lucas Mahias returns to service at Jerez

A positive day also for Lucas Mahias , who after almost four months without competition due to a broken wrist, was back on the Puccetti team's Kawasaki, turning in 1'40.921 still with some pain in the ligament of the fractured wrist.

In Supersport, MV Agusta made its debut in F3 800 on the track. The Italian brand is waiting for the factory to deliver all the missing hardware, including the fairing, but at least Niki TuulI was able to get an idea of the performance that the new 800 cc engine will offer this year compared to the old F3 675 engine.

The Finn was the best in the category with a time of 1'42.862 despite some electrical problems during the day, a time which can be compared with the Superpole achieved by Philipp Oettl in September (1'41.798) with a Kawasaki ZX-6R . His partner, Bahattin Sofuoglu , was unable to travel to Jerez because he tested positive for COVID19. In his place, his uncle Kenan rode, securing the fourth best Supersport record with a 1'44.

Ana Carrasco, who achieved the best lap in 1'49.545 aboard a Kawasaki ZX-6R labeled by Team Orelac sponsors VerdNatura, was also present during this first day of testing in Jerez. We will remind you that she is expected in Moto3 with the BOE team. The tests will continue again tomorrow, Thursday.