PTR HONDA is ready and raring to take part in the official World Supersport test at Phillip Island in Australia on February 20-21st before the opening round of the Championship at the same track on February 26th. With five riders over three teams, you can follow the progress of PTR Honda at www.performancetechnicalracing.co.uk or on Facebook. Ronan Quarmby (PTR Honda): “My main objective for the test is to get used to the PTR team and get to know everyone better; as well as learning the differences between my PTR Honda and the bike I rode in 2011. In the last test we did a lot of laps and now we need to look at a good set-up for a race. I am looking for a top five in the race and think that is more than possible. I’ve been training much harder than last year and I am ready for this; I am happy.” Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda): “For me the test at Phillip Island is important as I know nothing about the category and I have not worked with the team before. There is no pressure; I want to start relaxed and I know the PTR team has as lot of experience so I don’t have to thing about the bike set up. First I have to improve my feeling on the bike and I hope by the end of the second day of the test I will be fast. I hope to make a good first race weekend and be competitive but much will depend on the test. I need to be relaxed and not to try too much and make mistakes. It is a long season but also short. For me if I can battle for victory I will be happy at the opening round, but if that is not possible then it is more important to go better every race, improve every time. I am physically in very good shape; I am ready.” Martin Jessopp (Riders PTR Honda): “For the test I want plenty of track time so I can get out and learn Phillip Island as it is a new circuit for me. The first morning is all about getting the track dialled in and then I will stop out, put tyres in it and ride in circles to learn the circuit and get more data. For the first race I will do the same as I have always done – the best I can. I know what I think I am capable of. It is all new to me, the qualifying format, circuit, everything, so I will take it session by session.” Mathew Scholtz (Bogdanka PTR Honda): “Having met and tested with the team a few weeks ago in Spain I am confident for an awesome season. The whole package works well for me – the structure of the team, the support and of course the bike. The PTR Honda was a little different to the Moto2 machine from last year, especially the electronics took some getting used to, but by the end of the Spanish test I felt more comfortable on the PTR Honda machine. In Australia we will have another test session to make the final changes for the opening race. Where I live in South Africa I have no road race circuits close to me so I have been riding motocross and hitting the gym everyday to make sure I am physically at my best. Being my first year in a World Championship I have to learn lots of new circuits, but the team are obviously super experienced and can supply me the equipment and basic settings I need.” Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda): “The off-season was good for me but for a rider it’s always too long. I’ve worked with a new trainer and feel fit and after the test at Almeria we’re ready to rock and roll. It was my first time at Phillip Island last year and I loved the track. Last year we came close to winning so this year the goal is to battle for victory. Phillip Island is very picturesque, fast and flowing with lots of elevation changes. There’s nothing that really stands out but it flows really well and is a real rider’s track, which is why so many riders like it. We’ll start the week with the official test which will be very important too because it will be the first time we’ll all be on the track together. We’ve got a few things to try but we’re confident and I’m looking forward to getting back on a bike. I learned a lot last year, we’ve made a lot of improvements over the winter and we want to fight for the World Championship this year.” PTR Honda Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “PTR has its best rider line-up ever and we go into the first test and race confident this will be the start of our best season.”