Last test 2011 for Rea, first SBK for Aoyama !

Team Honda Castrol carried out its final tests of the year in Qatar and house rider Jonathan Rea took the opportunity to test 2012 parts on his Fireblade. For his new teammate Hiroshi Aoyama, it was a baptism. Report.

The official Honda Castrol (Ten Kate) World Superbike team rode for three days on the Losail circuit in Qatar. Under a blazing sun and on a track sometimes exceeding 50 ° C, the two drivers registered for the 2012 season, Jonathan Rea and Hiroshi Aoyama, were able to do a series of laps … but that would not have been quite enough !

"We tried tons of things and like in the last few tests we ended up running out of time", remarked Johnny last night as he got off his Fireblade, the 2011 model with 2012 parts to be exact….

"Jonathan worked on frame components for the 2012 machine", specifies the big boss Ronald Ten Kate: new swingarm, Ohlins suspensions (while the) and other components of the chassis that will be used on the next competition CBR1000RR.

"However, these trials have been really productive and I can’t wait to resume testing with my favorite combination of parts as we didn’t have the opportunity to do so today.", comments the English pilot who will find his favorite number next year, 65 !

Multiplying very different configurations in order to clearly distinguish their consequences on the behavior of the bike, Rea did not get tangled up in the brushes so far and would have signed very competitive lap times..

"Our two pilots are under the lap record even though it was very hot", says their team manager satisfied."One of the goals was to find Jonathan a quick teammate and we definitely did it", enthuses even Ronald.

The transfer from the RC212V of the Gresini team to the CBR of the Castrol team, however, promised to be delicate for Hiroshi: "I left Spain with food poisoning. In addition, my leather suits did not arrive on time and I had to use an old one.", reveals the" samurai " !

Besides these daily glitches, the last GP 250 world champion (on Honda of course, read) had never ridden on a World Superbike CBR1000RR, nor was he familiar with Pirelli tires….

To top it off, the small and light Japanese rider replaces the tall and robust Ruben Xaus in the Dutch team: "we need to make new parts to make it more comfortable on the motorcycle"realizes Ronald Ten Kate !

"Due to this I was not able to attack really hard", announces for his part Aoyama who will find his favorite race number next year: the n ° 4, the very one Rea wore on his own bike last year due to his 4th place in the WSBK in 2010 (9th in 2011).

"My signaller may be confused", jokes Jonathan on his prolific Twitter account !

In accordance with the new World Superbike regulations (read), the Ten Kate team and their two riders will take a – well deserved – month and a half break. But the resumption is already scheduled for January 2012 on the Phillip Island circuit: it will be summer in Australia, so plan a bob and sunscreen … And stay tuned !

Matthieu BRETILLE – Photos John N. MILLER

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