SPANISH SHAKEDOWN COMPLETED FOR MAR-TRAIN RACING Despite a heavy fall on day one for Glenn Irwin, Mar-Train Racing enjoyed a successful four days testing at Cartagena in Spain with the young Ulsterman and team leader Stuart Easton. The Scottish rider got through a mountain of work during the test: getting familiar with his new crew, whilst also acclimatising himself with the Mar-Train Racing R6 Yamaha. Irwin missed the second day but didn’t lose out, as he was able to sit in on Easton’s debriefs with team crew chief Andy Jamison, picking up valuable experience just shadowing the former British champion and three time Macau Grand Prix winner. Irwin did get to ride on days three and four alongside his new team-mate. Stuart Easton: “I’m fairly happy how it’s gone and we’ve made good progress every day. I’ve learnt more with the bike every time we’ve ridden it, so if we can keep improving then move on to the tests in England we are on the right track. This test has given me the chance to get comfortable on the Mar-Train Racing R6 and I’m not a million miles off the pace – even though the pace has got quicker every day – so that’s got to be a positive. “I’m also really comfortable with my new team and my new crew so it’s all looking good. After this week I think I’ll have no problem adapting back to the Supersport class. I’m content and I’ve got confidence that the package is there to do the job. Winning races is never easy but I’m confident for sure and looking forward to the start of the season now.” Glenn Irwin: “It obviously didn’t start the way I wanted with a big crash on the opening day. I’d had quite a good feeling on the bike but was just a little bit over exuberant and got caught out with the conditions. I missed the second day to heal up and also to let the boys work on the bike. “I got out in the last session on day three and it was just a steady twelve-lap run, and was only a few tenths off what we had achieved on day one – even though I was riding conservatively. It’s now just a matter of building my confidence again, but the team has been fantastic, especially after heavily damaging a bike on my first day with them. But it’s been a great experience working with them all and also with Stuart – and it can only get better from here on in.” Tim Martin – Team Principal: “Apart from the obvious and a few little mechanical issues that almost every team spends their first test ironing out, it’s been a very positive trip. It has given both riders the chance to get to know the team and the bikes and vice-versa and I have to be happy with our progress. “Glenn showed a little bit of inexperience with his crash on day one but that’s racing and we’re just glad he’s not badly injured; hopefully he will learn from it. Stuart has been the model professional as we expected: he doesn’t get too excited and uses testing to test and makes incremental changes in the right direction and his pace suggest he will certainly be a contender from round one at Brands. It’s now a matter of getting back to the workshop and preparing for the Brands and Snetterton tests on March 19 and 20, where we will continue our pre-season preparations. I’d just like to thank everyone for their efforts this week.”