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SBK<br />
BLOG<br />
Leon had to get used to the full<br />
factory Magneti Marelli system<br />
of the KRT Ninja. He wasn’t far<br />
off the pace but admitted that<br />
he was on a very steep learning<br />
curve. He was refreshingly candid<br />
in an interview, saying that<br />
is aware that the ‘package’ is a<br />
proven winner and everything<br />
else is down to him.<br />
The guys on this test that slipped<br />
under the radar were Alex Lowes<br />
and Michael VD Mark. There was<br />
nothing overtly new on show and<br />
the pair went about their business<br />
in a very purposeful and<br />
professional manner.<br />
I met Alex on the plane on the<br />
way home and he was relatively<br />
happy with what they had done<br />
on the first day but, like everyone<br />
else, was frustrated with not<br />
turning a wheel due to the rain on<br />
day two.<br />
This time next week we will all<br />
reconvene in Jerez in Andalucia<br />
and I think we will see more progress<br />
from everyone, out on their<br />
second dates. Alvaro Bautista will<br />
join them.<br />
There is much speculation as to<br />
how he will get on with the Superbike<br />
but I get the feeling that the<br />
new Panigale will be very similar<br />
in it’s riding characteristics to the<br />
MotoGP bike that Bautista has<br />
been racing this year. His performance<br />
on the factory machine,<br />
standing in for Jorge Lorenzo,<br />
showed his credentials and I<br />
expect him to be on the pace<br />
straight out of the box.<br />
The unknowns we have at this<br />
stage come from Honda, BMW<br />
and Ten Kate.<br />
The new Honda team formed by<br />
Moriwaki and Althea Racing will<br />
be based in the Czech Republic<br />
and at this stage they don’t realistically<br />
expect to be on track until<br />
January. BMW on the other hand<br />
are teaming up with Shaun Muir<br />
Racing, Tom Sykes and Markus<br />
Reiterberger will ride the new<br />
S1000RR and hope to make one<br />
private test before the end of the<br />
year.<br />
The final question mark is over<br />
the Dutch, Ten Kate Racing<br />
squad.<br />
Having been ruled out of any<br />
plans with Honda they are pressing<br />
hard to find a solution to keep<br />
them on the grid in 2019. There<br />
was a rumour circulating during<br />
the test that they were about to<br />
sign a deal with Suzuki. However,<br />
at Valencia at the weekend the<br />
Suzuki staff denied any involvement.<br />
Having worked with the<br />
team for a long number of years<br />
I really hope they find a solution.<br />
They have stayed loyal to the Superbike<br />
World Championship for<br />
many years, through some lean<br />
times, and it would be a travesty<br />
if we arrived in Phillip Island next<br />
February without them.
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