The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team concludes its first tests of the 2015 season at Portimao

Portimao (Portugal), Thursday 22 January 2015 – The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team today concluded its first test session of the 2015 season. The unstable weather conditions undoubtedly affected progress at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal but overall the squad is satisfied with the work it has completed.

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team, with official riders Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano, took to the track in its new configuration for the first time this week at the Portuguese circuit in Portimao. The team had a lot planned for the two-day session, with work centering around the shake-down of the brand new 2015 Ducati Panigale bikes, constructed during the weeks prior to this test session.

Unfortunately Wednesday’s schedule was interrupted by regular rain showers throughout the day, which made for a permanently wet track. The track conditions were similar again this morning, as a result of which factory riders Davies and Giugliano were only really able to head out on track this afternoon. Over the two day session, the Italian team worked on testing several electronic updates as well as the new 2015 suspension. Despite the difficulties caused by the inclement weather, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team declared itself pleased with the data collected during these very first tests of the 2015 racing season.

Next week, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team will return to the track, in Jerez, Spain, for another two days of testing (26-27 January) in preparation for next month’s opening races of the 2015 Superbike World Championship, to take place in Australia over the weekend of 20-22 February.

On 2 February, the official presentation of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team will be broadcast in live streaming on www.arubaracing.it

Quotes at the end of testing:

Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #34)

“Unfortunately this two day test was compromised by the poor weather. We only started to work in dry conditions in the early afternoon of today. It’s given us just a first taste of the newly-built 2015 bikes really. We’ve concentrated on identifying a base set-up for both the electronics and the suspension, with used tyres, without worrying too much about lap times. We have another two-day test at Jerez next week in which to continue preparations before leaving for Phillip Island. We hope for some good weather there so that we can work hard throughout the two days.”

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7)

“It’s been great to get back on the bike after the winter break. Unfortunately the weather limited our work somewhat and we were unable to fully evaluate certain new solutions as track conditions were never perfect. My general feeling with the bike is good however, aand this is positive. At this point, I really hope we find good weather at the next tests in Jerez so that we can continue to work and also draw some comparisons with the other teams.”

More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:

CRESCENT SUZUKI CONCLUDES PORTIMAO WSB TEST

Crescent Suzuki WSB has concluded its first pre-season test of 2015 at the Autodromo International do Algarve after rain halted proceedings for much of the two-day event.

Inconsistent weather brought showers and cold winds for most of Wednesday, hampering progress and allowing racers Alex Lowes and Randy de Puniet just a handful of laps.

Today looked to be more of the same, as a wet track greeted the team first-thing this morning. However, the sun finally ventured-out this afternoon, allowing Lowes and de Puniet some much-needed track-time aboard their 2015-spec Yoshimura-powered GSX-R1000s.

Lowes completed around 50 dry-laps of the Portuguese circuit – setting a best unofficial time of 1’44.0 – while his new French team-mate circulated for around 40 laps, with a best of 1’45.7, while learning the track lay-out.

Despite initial expectations regarding the weather conditions, the Crescent Suzuki team completed a detailed programme – with the 2015-spec engine working well – and allowing testing to extend to new clutch parts and rider set-up.

The Crescent Suzuki team now travels to Jerez, in Southern Spain, to continue the progress during its second and final private test scheduled for 10:00hrs local time (09:00GMT) on Monday January 26th. 

More, from a press release issued by Aprilia-Red Devils:

APRILIA-RED DEVILS WSBK – PORTIMÃO TESTS

TWO DAYS ON THE TRACK AT PORTIMÃO FOR THE APRILIA-RED DEVILS TEAM.

TESTING CONTINUES FOR LEON HASLAM AND JORDI TORRES, WORKING ALONGSIDE MAX BIAGGI.

Portimão, 22 January 2015 – The weather certainly did not help, but the Aprilia-Red Devils Superbike team leaves Portimão with the great satisfaction of having added another important piece to the puzzle in preparation for the 2015 World Championship. With a completely new rider line-up and the 2015 version of the RSV4, there is a lot of work to be done to turn up in optimum form at the first race in Australia. Yesterday the riders only went out for a brief run due to the extremely unpredictable weather conditions, whereas this afternoon they were able to take advantage of about 4 hours of dry track.

Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres, who will be astride the RSV4, reigning World Champion bike, continue their learning curve and have already responded well in terms of their feeling with the bike. Haslam, an expert and fast rider, finished the two days in the lead for the bikes with transponders fitted, stating that he was satisfied and excited about the upcoming season. He put in a total of 59 laps, stopping the clock on his best lap at 1’43.5.

Jordi Torres was also smiling, on his absolute maiden run (new bike, new category, new tyres and new circuit) and gaining familiarity with his RSV4, finishing out his tests with 75 laps, doing 1’45.9 on the best one.

Max Biaggi was also on the track as an Aprilia test rider. Despite a harmless crash on some tricky asphalt because of the rain at the end of the first day, the 6 time world champion finished out the testing schedule with a total of 47 laps.

The Aprilia-Red Devils Superbike team will take to the track again on Monday and Tuesday for another two days of testing at Jerez de la Frontera.

Leon Haslam: “The weather definitely wasn’t kind to us for these tests but I’m quite pleased anyway. This afternoon we were fast and I can tell that my feeling with the RSV4 is increasing lap by lap. There is still a lot of work to be done and I can’t wait to get back on the track in Jerez to continue our progress and make sure we’re in good form for the beginning of the season.”

Jordi Torres: “I can’t help but be pleased with our work today. We took the best possible advantage of a half a day on a dry track. The feeling is good, the bike is working great and the team is perfect. Now we need to get in as many laps as possible. I need to get used to new tyres, a new bike and, here in Portimão on an unfamiliar track too. Finishing the tests just a couple seconds behind an expert and fast rider like Leon boosts my confidence. Now let’s just hope we can put in some good times at Jerez so we can keep growing.”

Max Biaggi: “We really did not have a lot of time, especially when you consider the fact that the crash yesterday limited me a bit today. We’re still not at optimum performance levels, but we have already started working on a few details. I’m picking the automatism back up. It’s always great to get back on the track, but I have to get used to it again. I need to lap, so I hope we have nice weather in Jerez to do a good job.”

Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing Technical and Sport Manager: “Unfortunately the weather conditions put a damper on these tests. We would have liked to lap more and take home more information. The good news is Leon’s time results with a bike that is still wet behind the ears in terms of mapping and Jordi’s start who, without any knowledge of the bike and track, was still able to work well. Today was also the maiden run for the new team structure in collaboration with Red Devils. This year we will be active in two championships so we are still working out an organisation that will allow us to divide our forces the best possible way. Even Max, despite the troubles yesterday, was also able to make an important contribution.”

Andrea Petricca, Red Devils: “I’m really quite pleased with the way Leon and Jordi performed. Despite the unfavourable conditions they did a great job. Haslam is no surprise. Even at Jerez during the last tests he showed his potential astride the RSV4 RF and here is continued the same trend. Torres surprised me. On a track that he didn’t know he showed encouraging progress and I’m sure that in the next test, just a few days away, he’ll be able to grow even more.”