WSBK – WSBK trials in Jerez: Lowes and Rea neck and neck – De Puniet discovers World Superbike

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WSBK trials in Jerez: Lowes and Rea neck to neck

WSBK - WSBK trials in Jerez: Lowes and Rea neck and neck - De Puniet discovers World Superbike

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…

De Puniet discovers the World Superbike

Randy de Puniet is also going to have a stake during the Christmas holidays! The French rider, new to the category – within the Suzuki Voltcom Crescent team – has already planned to "watch the videos of the Superbike races to try to understand the most things".

Appearing in a very satisfying second place on the timesheet on Wednesday at the controls of his GSX-R1000, Randy de Puniet set the fifth fastest time of the week, just behind the experienced Leon Haslam and the RSV4 prepared by the Aprilia Red team. Devils.

"Everything was new to me, but my adaptation was quick", rejoices Randy:"the team is very professional and that made the work and the understanding of the bike easier. I am very satisfied because we were able to ride in both dry and wet conditions and we were quick in both conditions".

Forced to retire during his final Grand Prix outing (read our), Randy de Puniet emphasizes that he is "good to end the year on a positive note and be ready for next year". Like Guintoli in 2010, De Puniet can count on Gex to start his career in WSBK at the forefront in Australia. On the other circuits, however, he will have to spit more in the gloves…

Torres arrives at Aprilia Red Devils

"I am confident enough", continues our new representative in World Superbike:"I’m leaving here in a good position, I’ll be able to focus on my training and get ready for the first race"… and first – big – points ?!

Sixth fastest time of the week, Michel Fabrizio drove Monday and Tuesday the second RSV4 RR of the Aprilia Red Devils team, but he will not find it again at the start of the next school year: the Italian driver was finally "overtaken" by a certain Jordi Torres !

It is indeed the Spaniard who will team up with Leon Haslam in 2015. Double Moto2 champion in Spain and winner in this same category of, the 27-year-old rider was preferred by Andrea Petricca for "his contagious enthusiasm".

"This is an important step in my career and I am determined to do my best", assures the teammate in 2014 at Aspar de … Nico Terol, Spanish rider who will also land in the World Superbike next year within the Ducati Althea team !

"I know it won’t be easy because the level in Superbike is very high", Jordi predicts,"but I like to race on powerful motorcycles so I hope to adapt quickly to my RSV4. I can’t wait to drive it, I’m already counting the days between the January tests !"

Van den Mark takes his marks

This time, Michael van den Mark is a pure product of the World Superbike industry, going from the CBR600RR to the CBR1000RR SP this winter. "When I got on the bike for the first time on Monday it was certainly very different but I really loved this first test !", testifies the Supersport world champion.

The Fireblade is however not completely foreign to him since "Magic Michael" has won the last two editions of the handlebars. But the racing models vary according to the championships and the regulations … The 20-year-old pilot has to learn everything again !

"The weather was not great, but I spent the first two days without electronics to find my marks on the bike and gauge the power.", details the little protege of Honda and Ten Kate who is obviously not afraid of anything !

"On Wednesday I used a little more electronics and we made some big changes to see how every part of the system worked, and it was really helpful", continues VDM (Van Den Mark, alias" Vie De Magie ").

Satisfied with his bike overall and his times on worn tires in particular, the n ° 60 of the Honda Pata team finished this week in seventh place. "I also used the qualifying tire on Wednesday", specifies Michael,"and I was able to shoot a second faster with, as expected".

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