WSBK – Tests WSBK Aragon: Baz imposes his rhythm –

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WSBK Aragon testing: Baz sets its pace

WSBK - Tests WSBK Aragon: Baz imposes his rhythm -

Loris Baz and his ZX-10R set the best time of the two days of Superbike testing in Aragon (Spain) in which the Aprilia, Ducati, Honda and Kawasaki teams participated. Rea on CBR1000RR and Davies on Panigale complete the Top 3. Report.

Thursday and Friday, a handful of Superbike riders had an appointment on the superb and demanding track of Motorland of Aragon to carry out the penultimate tests of the year 2013 (read). The sun was there, but the cold and the wind too…

On Thursday evening, Marco Melandri’s "tweet" on his official Twitter account was quite explicit: "it was a great day for windsurfing! Too much wind to be completely comfortable on my Aprilia RSV4".

Loris Baz confirmed the next day: "it was quite windy during most of the testing, but it eased a bit just before we finished". Nevertheless, our" Green Giant "seems to have been less bothered by the squalls than the little Ravenna Hedgehog.

Thursday " was really a good dayNinja # 76 said: "it was the first time that I took pleasure in traversing this track because I was much easier on the bike. It shows the huge progress we have made throughout the season".

Indeed, at the end of the first day, Loris was running faster than during his private tests, "summer" and hot in June (read). During his hundred or so laps of the track, Bazooka recorded very good times for these climatic conditions: 1’57.7 on racing tires (type SC1) and 1’57.0 on soft tires, this last time allowing him to take pride of place at the top of the timesheet (see the times at the bottom of the page).

Certainly, his team-mate’s world champion made it easier for him: supposed to ride these two days too, Tom Sykes left his ZX-10R to storm home to England to join his wife Amy and attend – in time, phew! – at the birth of his daughter !

Lieutenant Bazooka on report

At the center of the attention of the Kawasaki Racing team, Baz has visibly satisfied its managers. "It was very positive to see Loris continue to improve, as he has been doing since last year.", noted the team manager Guim Roda.

"I still remember that eight months ago, he was struggling to turn in 1’59 at Motorland", admits today the big boss of the Greens …"This time it took only two laps to get into 1’59. His time in 1’58 came easily and when he attacked a little he was able to sign a 1’57".

All that "safely, without making mistakes and without falling"Says Senor Roda, reassured. Injured in the back this summer, Loris Baz was kept away from the circuits during the last third of the 2013 season in order to get back in good shape in 2014 … And the plan is working wonderfully. for the moment !

Satisfied, the team manager outlines his objectives for 2014: "we want to do even better than what we did last year, with our two pilotsIn other words: keep the driver’s title and steal the constructors’ title from Aprilia !

Second fastest time in practice, Jonathan Rea is also picking up speed, slowly but surely! The Northern Irish pilot and his team mainly worked on the "made in HRC" electronics of the CBR1000RR, a major weak point of the Fireblade last year.

"We also tried a few tweaks on the 2014 Ohlins fork model which turned out to be interesting", indicated Friday evening n ° 65 of the Honda Pata team, before summarizing:"I’m satisfied with our job and I really enjoyed driving".

Just recovered from his fractured femur, "JR" is reinvesting in the outposts and impatiently awaiting the last tests of 2013, scheduled for November 25-27 in Jerez. His compatriot and teammate Leon Haslam – who is recovering from a double fracture below the knee! – is still a tone below but also regains confidence.

Slowed down on the first day by some technical problems, the n ° 91 Honda estimated that his times on the SC1 "were good enough". He regrets, however, not having been able to take advantage of the SC0"lack of time". The Top 5 was perhaps within reach ?!

For his part, Chaz Davies made an impression by placing his 1199 Panigale on the "podium" of these autumn tests. "Superb day on the Aragon trail"," touched "the new Ducati rider cheerfully:"my team found a good direction to follow with my Panigale and we lined up some good lap times. Molto contento sound system !"

It should be noted, however, that unlike Baz (and Guintoli, who also continues to rehabilitate his shoulder), Davies has always enjoyed Motorland. Site readers – who, as everyone knows, have a little more memory than others – know that Chaz won on his BMW Italy.

Will the Welshman be as good on other tracks on the Ducati? Or will he be closer to the level of his new teammate, Davide Giugliano, installed in fifth place in this test more than a second behind the French leader? Case to follow on MNC…

By completing the 5.543 km course in 1’58 "all round", Marco Melandri is one second behind Loris Baz. Cooled by the weather, the famous n ° 33 still seems satisfied with his two days spent with his new companion (after a first outing in Jerez).

"We worked on the riding position and I was able to test the bike in the configuration used by Sylvain Guintoli, gathering useful information", explained at the end of the tests the replacement of Eugene Laverty, accompanied in Aragon by the test pilot Alex Hofmann.

Marco hopes to take advantage of higher temperatures during his next appointment with the RSV4 to select one of the two tuning bases (that of Guintoli or Laverty) and "try to improve my lap times on a single lap".

The next winter tests will take place in the far south of Spain, in Jerez, from November 25 to 27. The Kawasaki Racing Team and the Honda Pata team will also conclude their year 2013 there and will be joined by Suzuki and Eugene Laverty. To follow on the Site: stay connected !

Test WSBK Aragon November 14-15, 2013

  1. Loris Baz – Kawasaki: 1’57.0

  2. Jonathan Rea – Honda: 1’57.4

  3. Chaz Davies – Ducati: 1’57.6

  4. Marco Melandri – Aprilia: 1’58.0

  5. Davide Giugliano – Ducati: 1’58.2

  6. Leon Haslam – Honda: 1’58.5

  7. David Salom – Kawasaki: 1’59.8

  8. Alex Hofmann – Aprilia: 2’00.8

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