IN
THE
WIND
P34
WORLDSBK STRAIGHT INTO TESTING
S
ome of the WorldSBK pad-
dock was in attendance over
two days at Aragon last week,
trying out various settings on their
new machines in early preparation
for the 2019 season.
The test saw no surprises
with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki)
topping the only day that wasn't
affected by rain, with a best lap of
1:49.665.
Despite feeling ill from a winter
bug, Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha
WorldSBK) put in the second-best
time, albeit 1.489 seconds from
Rea, as well as trying out a new
rear swingarm and some other
chassis changes in the afternoon
session.
The greatest excitement of
the first day was how the all-new
Ducati Panigale V4 R would go.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Ducati) was
immediately happy with his new
bike, saying it felt nothing like his
previous V-twin and thus making
direct comparisons difficult. His
pace, even from the start, was
good, considering this was his first
ride on the new WorldSBK Ducati.
He would finish third fastest of all,
just a few hundredths of a second
from Lowes, in what were dry and
moderate weather conditions.
The return of Leon Haslam
(KRT) to the WorldSBK fold was
a positive one, despite running
off-track as his bike suffered a
technical issue that cost him and
his team some track time. In going
fourth quickest, Haslam was within
touching distance of Davies and
Lowes as he adapted his riding
style to a full electronics package
again.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it
Ducati), standing in for the current
MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista, was
on a Barni Racing Ducati V4R at
this test. The 2018 rookie was fifth
fastest and Michael van der Mark
(Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) sixth of
the Superbike riders at Motorland,
carrying some issues over from
the wrist he injured in Qatar.
KTM's MotoGP development
team shared some track time
with the Superbike riders, with
their rider Randy De Puniet (KTM
MotoGP) setting lap times in the
middle order of those present.
Click here for more news from
the Aragon WorldSBK test, includ-
ing an in depth look at the Ducati
Panigale V4 challenge.
Gordon Ritchie
No surprises here as
Jonathan Rea, once again,
topped the WorldSBK test
times at Aragon.
