BSB testing - Navarra

[wull]

https://www.britishsuperbike.com/news/2 ... is-weekend







The Bennetts British Superbike Championship contenders head to Circuito de Navarra this weekend (March 11/12/13) to kick off the opening official test action of the 2023 season.

The International standard circuit in the north-west of Spain was acquired by MotorSport Vision (MSV) in October 2022, and will host Bennetts BSB action for the first time with teams and riders from multiple classes taking advantage of forecast good weather before returning to the UK for the further official tests ahead of the Easter opening round at Silverstone.

The test will feature some of the teams who have already utilised private track time at Monteblanco and Andalucía, including Honda Racing UK with Andrew Irwin and Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson.

The track time will also give some of Bennetts BSB’s latest rookies the chance to continue their adaptation to the Superbike with reigning Pirelli Junior Superstock Champion Max Cook gaining experience with Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki and Supersport runner-up Bradley Perie with the Lee Hardy Racing Kawasaki team.

Reigning support class Champions are also back on track at Circuito de Navarra as Supersport victor Jack Kennedy and Superstock winner Davey Todd have both already had some track time in Spain ahead of the official test. The pair both joined the Bennetts BSB grid in the final rounds last season and they are looking to build on that for a full attack during 2023 with the Mar-Train Racing Yamaha and Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles Honda teams respectively.

British GP2 reigning Champion Jack Scott is also set for his first full test since joining the Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki team alongside Liam Delves. The Team Green contenders on track also feature DAO Racing Kawasaki’s Dean Harrison.

Reigning Bennetts BSB Champions OMG Racing Yamaha also return to the track this week with Ryan Vickers joining Kyle Ryde and Héctor Barberá continues preparing for his return to Bennetts BSB with TAG Racing Honda.

The test at Circuito de Navarra will also be the first opportunity for the Ducati teams to test with PBM Ducati on track for the first time with Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell, and for Christian Iddon to debut with the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team.

Hawk Racing also break cover since their switch of manufacturer with Josh Owen on the Crendon by Hawk Racing Honda and teammate Charlie Nesbitt on the MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda. The test also features new Honda rival Danny Kent, with the previous Moto3 World Champion continuing his debut campaign with the all-new Lovell Kent Racing Honda team.

The international open test means that riders from outside of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship classes can also take part in the three-day activity.

[wull]

Ryde leads the way as 2023 Bennetts BSB gets underway with Navarra Official Test





The 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship pre-season preparations officially begun at Circuito de Navarra this morning with the opening official Test of the year, and reigning champions OMG Racing Yamaha set the pace at lunchtime with Kyle Ryde.

Ryde is one of the few riders to have previous circuit knowledge from his time in the CEV Championship earlier in his career, and he was soon back in the groove to edge out Leon Haslam by 0.069s at the lunchbreak.

Haslam is participating in the test on a BSB specification BMW M 1000 RR, but the 2018 champion is yet to confirm his plans for the 2023 season.

Ryan Vickers made it both OMG Racing Yamahas in the top three on the early times, but a crash mid-session meant he sat out the remainder of the morning as he prepares for his return to the track this afternoon.

Héctor Barberá was fourth on the times with the TAG Racing Honda team, leading Honda Racing UK’s Andrew Irwin and Lovell Kent Racing Honda’s Danny Kent.


Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:39.736
Leon Haslam (BMW) +0.069s
Ryan Vickers (OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.767s
Héctor Barberá (TAG Racing Honda) +0.977s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.002s
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda Racing UK) +1.292s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +1.824s
Glenn Irwin (PBM Ducati) +1.841s
Tommy Bridewell (PBM Ducati) +2.009s
Dean Harrison (DAO Racing Kawasaki) +2.057s

[Skub]

PBM a couple of seconds off the pace. Maybe it wasn't Josh Brookes and Sykes being slow last season....

[wull]

End of the day

Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:38.833s
Leon Haslam (BMW) +0.628s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.047s
Ryan Vickers (OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.202s
Glenn Irwin (PBM Ducati) +1.462s
Héctor Barberá (TAG Honda) +1.540s
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +1.586s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +1.654s
Tommy Bridewell (PBM Ducati) +1.728s
Max Cook (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +2.068s

[wull]

PBM a couple of seconds off the pace. Maybe it wasn't Josh Brookes and Sykes being slow last season....

I suspect the times will come down from them, their first time there and the first time on that bike so will take time to get acquainted with it.

Another two days to go I believe.

[westers151]

PBM a couple of seconds off the pace. Maybe it wasn't Josh Brookes and Sykes being slow last season....

I suspect the times will come down from them, their first time there and the first time on that bike so will take time to get acquainted with it.

Another two days to go I believe.

Bridewell has been on that bike for a few years now, he hardly has to get acquainted with it. Yes, he has to get acquainted with a new team, and the new model, but he shouldn't be that far off. And it's not Tommy who I'm pointing the finger at - PB need's to stop with the (allegedly) Colombian marching powder and get back to running a race team.

[wull]

Regardless of it being the V4R which I’m fully aware of it’s not always the same spec with regards to waiting for parts etc and being slightly behind with the Oxford Ducati bike vs the PBM bikes in prior years and the fact it’s the new MY23 V4R so yes he’s getting acquainted with it.

Plus when that’s exactly what he said during testing today, new team new bike new track, so just getting acquainted with it i think he’ll know just a tad more about it than you

[wull]

Less than 2 hours in and Kyle Ryde has already bettered his time from yesterday with a 1.38:768

[wull]

1.38:4 now just as they stop for lunch.

[wull]

OMG Racing Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde continued to lead the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Official Test times at Circuito de Navarra this morning on the second day of testing, upping his pace by 0.413s to remain ahead of Leon Haslam and the new PBM Ducati teammates.

Ryde has so far set the benchmark after the opening day and a half on track for the title-winning team, with 2018 Champion Haslam edging to within 0.435s onboard a BSB specification BMW. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ is yet to confirm his plans for the forthcoming season, but he continued to improve his pace on day two.

The closing moments of the morning session became a shuffle of the PBM Ducati teammates for third, with Glenn Irwin edging out Tommy Bridewell at the chequered flag by 0.440s.

Honda Racing UK’s Andrew Irwin continues to work through their testing programme, utilising two different specification Fireblades with Tom Neave currently sidelined through injury. He set the fifth fastest time, ahead of new Honda rival Danny Kent on the Lovell Kent Racing Honda.

Héctor Barberá continued the run of Honda riders for the TAG Racing team in seventh place, just ahead of birthday boy Charlie Nesbitt on the MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda. Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon and Mar-Train Yamaha’s Jack Kennedy completed the top ten.

Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:38.420s
Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +0.435s
Glenn Irwin (PBM Ducati) +0.530s
Tommy Bridewell (PBM Ducati) +0.970s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.113s
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +1.249s
Héctor Barberá (TAG Racing Honda) +1.311s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda) +1.698s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +1.702s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +1.708

[wull]

Kyle Ryde maintained his position at the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Official Test times at Circuito de Navarra this afternoon, becoming the only rider to dip into the 1m:37s barrier in the final 20 minutes of the day.

The OMG Racing Yamaha rider held a 0.820s advantage at the chequered flag ahead of tomorrow’s final day at the Spanish circuit, the lap time just 0.753s adrift of the WSBK race lap record set in 2021. Meanwhile teammate Ryan Vickers sat out today’s action following his crash yesterday.

Ryde said: “The day was really good, we went through a lot of things with the bike and did a lot of donkey work this morning. The bike has felt mega, whatever we did to it, I always had confidence, which is always a great thing when you are testing things. We made this afternoon simple and we had a little plan to do this afternoon.

“I wasn’t planning on putting a new tyre in at the end, but everything felt so good that I thought ‘why not,’ and the lap time was good. The bike feels great so roll on tomorrow.”

Glenn Irwin moved up into second place on the combined timesheets in the final hour of the day, getting to grips with the new PBM Ducati as he eased Leon Haslam back into third place on the BSB specification BMW.

Andrew Irwin led the Honda riders in fourth place as he remained ahead of Tommy Bridewell; the PBM Ducati rider had a crash earlier in the afternoon but was able to return to the track towards the end of the day and improved his best time.

Jack Kennedy moved up the order in the final stages of the day, posting the sixth fastest time on the Mar-Train Yamaha, pushing ahead of former GP riders Danny Kent and Héctor Barberá. Charlie Nesbitt is the rider to complete the most laps so far during this test and he was ninth fastest on the MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda.

Christian Iddon completed the top ten on the Oxford Products Racing Ducati despite a crash early in the afternoon as he prepares to return to the track tomorrow for the final day.


Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:37.818s
Glenn Irwin (PBM Ducati) +0.820s
Leon Haslam (BMW) +1.037s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.494s
Tommy Bridewell (PBM Ducati) +1.512s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +1.663s
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +1.851s
Héctor Barberá (TAG Racing Honda) +1.913s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda) +2.126s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +2.304s

[wull]

[wull]

Kyle Ryde remained ahead of his Bennetts British Superbike Championship rivals after the final day on track at Circuito de Navarra today (Monday) for the opening Official Test, maintaining his position ahead of Leon Haslam and Glenn Irwin for reigning Champions OMG Racing Yamaha.

Ryde had set the benchmark throughout the first two days and on the final morning on track, he upped the pace again to set a lap of 1m:37.586s, the time 0.5215s adrift of the WSBK race lap record at the Spanish circuit. Ryde had been bidding for a sequence of flying laps, but a bird strike after his personal best lap, prevented any further time attack on that run.

Ryde said: “Yesterday and today have been chilled out and it’s very nice to feel so comfortable on my R1. We polished the day off and tried my best for a great lap time and everything clicked and it just worked. I can’t thank all of my team enough; my new crew chief Shannon has done an amazing job. I can’t wait to get the tests at Donington and Silverstone now.

“I think this type of circuit is one that when you are confident you can find a lot of time. There are a lot of front end corners and I have felt mega with my bike all though the test here.

“The plan was to do two laps and I did one, then on the second lap going into turn one doing 171mph, a pigeon went straight through my windscreen and hit me, we decided that was the end of today doing fast lap times.

“The bike is literally going to go straight into the truck, get cleaned and is going to come out at Donington. We are not going to touch a thing, I can’t wait!”

Haslam also improved his fastest time during the final morning despite a crash, but rising temperatures in the afternoon meant that the 2018 Champion didn’t return to the track on the last afternoon onboard the BSB specification BMW. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ is yet to confirm his plans for the 2023 season.

Glenn Irwin completed the top three after the first Official Test on his return to the PBM Ducati team; a crash on the final morning before lunch ended his day early, but just 0.214s separated him from new teammate Tommy Bridewell in fourth place.

Andrew Irwin rounded out the top five for Honda Racing UK as he is back onboard the Fireblade for the new season; working through a range of changes across two different specification motorcycles, whilst teammate Tom Neave remains sidelined through injury.

Danny Kent continued his progress with the Lovell Kent Racing Honda team; the 2015 Moto3 World Champion relishing his switch to Honda machinery for the new campaign.

Christian Iddon was back on track on the final day at Circuito de Navarra after a crash yesterday afternoon, the Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider holding the seventh fastest time overall.

Reigning Quattro Group British Supersport Champion Jack Kennedy was eighth fastest for Mar-Train Yamaha despite a crash on the final afternoon, remaining ahead of Héctor Barberá on the TAG Racing Honda. Charlie Nesbitt completed the combined top ten despite the MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda team not taking part in the final day on track.



Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Official Test, Circuito de Navarra, combined times (Monday AM):

Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:37.586s
Leon Haslam (BMW) +0.933s
Glenn Irwin (PBM Ducati) +1.052s
Tommy Bridewell (PBM Ducati) +1.244s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.458s
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +1.792s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +1.885s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +1.895s
Héctor Barberá (TAG Racing Honda) +2.145s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac by Hawk Racing Honda) +2.358s

[weeksy]

0.9 is a MASSIVE gap really isn't it..

Is he just sticking in a stupid soft tyre or something? it's a huge figure.

[wull]

0.9 is a MASSIVE gap really isn't it..

Is he just sticking in a stupid soft tyre or something? it's a huge figure.

Well he’s just 0.5s off the WSBK time so maybe so. Thing is he was incredible last “off season” and at the start of the season then fell away, he has to keep it going.