SWAN YAMAHA END SPANISH TESTS ON A HIGH WITH HILL FASTEST Swan Yamaha have concluded two successful tests in Spain as the team ended on a high at Cartagena with Tommy Hill setting a blistering time to be the only rider to break into the 1m:32s barrier as Michael Laverty came close to equalling his team-mate’s performance. Laverty had initially set the pace on the opening day as the team continued to build on the progress made earlier in the week at Calafat. On day two Hill was the first rider to dip into the 1m:33s lap times before their final session of the test yesterday when he became the only rider to break into the 1m:32s barrier. The team now leave the track and return to the UK in a confident mood ahead of further tests in the UK prior to the opening round at Brands Hatch. Hill said: “What a great final day. I had been doing some race simulations with some longer stints on track and was comfortably running in the 1m:33s region so I was happy with that. I wanted to see if we could go faster so in our final session, we put in a new tyre and did the 1m:32s which was an awesome way for us to end the test. It showed we can do consistent runs, but when we need to we can put in a fast lap when it counts. We have made some real improvements over the last few days and there is still more to come when we get back to the workshop and strip the bikes down. We can then have a look through the data and then plan for our next tests in the UK. I have to thank the whole of the Swan Yamaha team for all of their efforts over the last week as we really achieved what we needed to in Spain.” Laverty said: “It was quite good again for the final stint on track, we started off by going back to our base setting and put a harder spring in the rear and went faster. I got into the 1m:33s lap times so that was good. I am feeling really happy with the chassis and electronics and we have been consistent which is so important. I have been really pleased with the pace that we have set so early on and how the bike has adapted between the circuits using our base setting. In our final session yesterday we ran on race tyres and with a slight change took another few tenths off where we had gained extra speed from the grip we had found. We did a run on a softer tyre and we got down to the 1m:33.1s lap times. I think we could have matched Tommy’s lap but I am feeling happy with the team and know we will push each other all the way this season. I need to thank the Swan Yamaha team for their hard work over the past months so that we could put in a performance in Spain that means we returned home feeling confident ahead of our next test.”