JG SPEEDFIT KAWASAKI COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL OPENING WINTER TESTS!

25th November 2015 – JG Speedfit Kawasaki riders James Ellison and Peter Hickman have successfully completed their opening winter tests aboard the all-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Superbike. Despite using a completely stock motor, both riders set impressive times that were comparative to their KRT World Superbike counterparts.

With the GBmoto Racing prepared JG Speedfit Kawasaki squad only receiving the brand new ZX-10R shortly before they joined the official Kawasaki Racing Team at a two day test at Aragon, they worked hard to bring a strong hybrid of the 2016 machine both James Ellison and Peter Hickman will use.

With weather shortening the opening day of action at Aragon, the team were still able to work through the standard initial set-up issues, before focusing on chassis settings and adapting to the new factory Showa suspension units. Moving to Jerez a week later, where they were joined by a host of World Superbike teams, both riders found a comfortable set-up with the new chassis and suspension before working on testing different swingarms alongside looking at different braking alternatives. Despite using a stock engine and no traction control or anti-wheelie, both James and Peter impressed with their outright speed.

With valuable data, the team now return to the UK where they will complete the full Superbike build ahead of the next set of pre-season winter tests at the end of January. Both riders will be in attendance at various times throughout Motorcycle Live this coming week.

Excited by the potential of the all-new ZX-10R, James Ellison said, “The new ZX-10R really does have huge potential. The team only got them the week before we went to Aragon but it already feels really good. We’ve spent a lot of the time trying setting with the new factory Showa suspension, and I feel really good with my first impressions.

“My best time at Jerez would have been good enough for the fifth fastest lap in the World Superbike race, so to do that after only a few days and with a standard engine is really impressive. The team know what they’re doing and I’m really excited to try the full machine in January. I’m now heading back to the UK for a bit and hoping to see lots of fans at Motorcycle Live!”

With a victorious visit to the Macau Grand Prix between Aragon and Jerez, Peter Hickman was pleased with his first impressions, “Considering I only got half a day on the bike at Aragon and then a day at Jerez, I’m really pleased with the feeling I’ve got with the bike. I’d never been to Aragon before, so with a new track as well as an all-new machine it was big learning curve! Although I’ve only ever instructed there, and have never tried to go fast, I was a lot more comfortable at Jerez. We were on the stock engine, so were working through various chassis and suspension set ups but my first impressions are really positive.

“We never tried to go for a flying lap, so to get the time we did is really encouraging – particularly after being a little jetlagged with all the travelling! The team now know the direction they want to go in and I can’t wait to get back out on the bike in January.”

GBmoto Racing Team Manager Mike Kane added, “It’s certainly been a whirlwind few weeks for the team, but after getting the all-new ZX-10R’s the guys in the workshop worked incredibly hard to create a hybrid of the 2016 Superbike, with Showa suspension, Superbike Triple Clamps, race wheels and brakes, an Akrapovic exhaust and Superbike swingarm, alongside the 2015 Motec system. I’m really pleased with how both tests went and after working through the normal set-up issues, we focused on finding a chassis and suspension setting that both riders were really positive about. We were also able to try various swingarms and braking alternatives, completing our entire testing schedule.

“Both James and Peter were impressive with good speed in short timescales; neither tried for a flying lap but were within touching distance of full World Superbike spec machines. They also gave fantastic feedback which has left us with a clear direction for the full Superbike build, which we’ll now complete ahead of our next scheduled tests at the end of January. It’s clear that Kawasaki has taken a big step forward with this bike and we are confident it will be a winner!”