WSBK – WSBK tests in Jerez: Lowes and Rea neck and neck – No.1 Guintoli discovers his new bike

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WSBK trials in Jerez: Lowes and Rea neck to neck

WSBK - WSBK tests in Jerez: Lowes and Rea neck and neck - No.1 Guintoli discovers his new bike

The World Superbike riders took part last week in Jerez in the final tests of 2014. Alex Lowes and his Suzuki finished in style with the best time, but they are followed – very – closely by Jonathan Rea and his Kawasaki…

The n ° 1 Guintoli discovers his new motorcycle

That same third day in the dry, Sylvain Guintoli was four tenths of a second behind his little one – but strong! – Dutch teammate. The day before, our world champion had set his best time: 1’41.639, a small second slower than leaders Lowes and Rea.

"The lap times are nothing special", readily fits the" Number One ","but we have done some preparation work here and we have a direction for the next test. It was also good to meet the mechanics, technicians and the rest of the team this week.", points out Sylvain, also elected .

"This first meeting with the team and with the CBR was really positive", continues our beloved Frenchie."This machine is clearly different from the one I rode for the past two years (Aprilia RSV4, NDLR) and this test should above all allow me to discover the Honda and its strengths".

In his video interview (see next page), "Guinters" specifies in the introduction that "the bike is very smooth to ride, easy to turn. I haven’t done a lot of laps in the dry so it’s still difficult to comment, but in the wet it is very good".

In his impeccable English, Sylvain believes that "the new technical regulations will work in our favor, I hope anyway. I think it will level the performance, which will increase the spectacle for the spectators by that much and lead to tight races, and it should match the HondaHis fans are crossing their fingers !

Finally aware that he no longer has the best machine on the board – this version of the Fireblade is seven years old while the RSV4 has won four of the last five manufacturer titles! – Sylvain says he can count on his professionalism to defend his title.

"When I started in the world championship", recalls Guintoli,"I never had the best bike, the best package to win the title or even win races … but I also think I was not ready".

A little "too wild", not sufficiently applied and concentrated, the n ° 50 still won the world title in Superbike this season."I always preferred to please myself", he admits, but today"making sacrifices to always go faster on the track is what makes me happy".

Just behind Sylvain on Wednesday’s timesheet is another Frenchman who we would like to see win his first world title: Jules Cluzel, again registered in the World Supersport at the helm of the factory MV Agusta !

Julo and his F3 completed their best lap on the Andalusian circuit in 1’43.958, two tenths of a second slower than Kenan Sofuoglu and his Ninja the day before. The – which had turned to the advantage of the Turk – is officially relaunched !

Not entirely official this time, the arrivals of Lorenzo Zanetti and Leon Camier at MV Agusta – respectively in the Supersport and Superbike categories – should be announced very soon. The two pilots were present during these last tests 2014.

Sylvain Barrier also completed his last laps of the year on his BMW Italia, but since it has no transponder, our two-time Superstock 1000 champion does not appear in the best lap lists..

While waiting to sign his 2015 contract, Syl’20 contented himself with posting on his Twitter account a view of his "new workstation": the fully digital panel, embedded in carbon, of its S1000RR … It’s a dream !

The winter break for registered drivers began today. The next tests will take place on January 19 and 20 in Aragon (Kawasaki) and January 21 and 22 in Portimao (Ducati and Suzuki, in particular). There will then be only one month left before the opening of the season, at the end of February at Phillip Island … To follow naturally closely on MNC: stay connected !

Superbike Jerez tests – Wednesday November 26, 2014

  1. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki: 1 ‘40.738

  2. Randy De Puniet – Suzuki: 1 ‘41.296

  3. Alex Lowes – Suzuki: 1 ‘41.321

  4. Tom Sykes – Kawasaki: 1 ‘41.335

  5. Michael van der Mark – Honda: 1 ‘41.437

  6. Sylvain Guintoli – Honda: 1 ‘41.813

  7. Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta WSS): 1 ‘43.958

  8. Fabio Massei (Ducati STK) 1 ‘44.633

  9. Leon Camier – MV Agusta: 1 ‘44.905

  10. Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta WSS): 1 ‘45.283

  11. Tony Covena (Ducati STK): 1 ‘46.236

Superbike Jerez tests – Thursday 27 November 2014 (Wet)

  1. Tom Sykes – Kawasaki: 1 ‘52.206

  2. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki: 1 ‘52.638

  3. Sylvain Guintoli – Honda: 1 ‘53.357

  4. Randy de Puniet – Suzuki: 1 ’54.

  5. Leon Camier – MV Agusta: 1 ‘55.695

  6. Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta WSS): 1 ‘56.277

  7. Michael van der Mark Mark – Honda: 1 ‘56.420

  8. Fabio Massei (Ducati-SSCK: 1 ‘56.431

  9. Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta WSS): 1 ‘58.888

  10. Tony Covena (Ducati STK): 2 ‘00.554

  11. Alex Lowes – Suzuki: 2 ‘02.993
  • Davide Giugliano 1 ‘51.9

  • Chaz Davies 1 ‘53.8

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