Final European SBK tests for Team HRC at Portimão
Autódromo Internacional do AlgarveTeam HRC has been back at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal this week for another WorldSBK test with factory riders Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona.
The team continued to work to identify a base set-up for the new CBR1000RR-R, just as it did during last week’s tests at Jerez in Spain. The Portimão track is dramatically different to Jerez, which allowed the team to carry out tests in different conditions, and again in dry weather.
Working methodically with their technicians to make a series of systematic adjustments to the setup of the new CBR1000RR-R throughout Monday and Tuesday, Vierge and Lecuona focused on understanding the behaviour of the bike and working to improve the level of traction around the undulating Portimão circuit. The data collated will be useful not only for the races that will be held at this track in the summer, but more importantly for the first races of the year, as the team looks for that all-important base set-up that can serve in different situations.
This was the last European test for Team HRC, with the squad now preparing to travel to Australia mid-February, ready for the final pre-season tests, set to take place at the Phillip Island circuit on 19-20 February immediately prior to the 2024 WorldSBK season-opener, to be staged at the same Australian track on 23-25 February.
After last week’s Jerez test the team put together a really good plan for us to follow here at Portimão. So yesterday we started by working on the base, looking for greater stability, and then we mainly focused on the electronics. I think we’ve taken a little step forward, working on our riding style to manage the traction issue a little better. Today we essentially continued in a similar vein, as without traction it’s hard to fully exploit the potential of the engine and tyres. Overall, and as I said after the Jerez test, the feeling on the bike is not bad. At the end of this test, I can say that we have more understanding and are moving in the right direction. We now have a huge amount of data to look at before Phillip Island, where I hope we can take a similar step to the one we’ve made from Jerez to Portimão.
After last week’s Jerez test the team put together a really good plan for us to follow here at Portimão. So yesterday we started by working on the base, looking for greater stability, and then we mainly focused on the electronics. I think we’ve taken a little step forward, working on our riding style to manage the traction issue a little better. Today we essentially continued in a similar vein, as without traction it’s hard to fully exploit the potential of the engine and tyres. Overall, and as I said after the Jerez test, the feeling on the bike is not bad. At the end of this test, I can say that we have more understanding and are moving in the right direction. We now have a huge amount of data to look at before Phillip Island, where I hope we can take a similar step to the one we’ve made from Jerez to Portimão.
I've definitely completed a lot of laps over the two days here, and we've worked very hard. Unfortunately, despite the great efforts of everyone on the team, we cannot be satisfied with our result or performance. We were honestly expecting more, especially considering this is a track where I had a strong race last year. We still need to find a way to establish a good base setup to exploit the potential of the new bike. We have another two days to test at Phillip Island, although there it will be more about preparing for the first races. We will see. I’ll go to Australia with the best possible attitude though. It was nice to see some of the MotoGP guys here too. I chatted with the Marquez brothers, Luca Marini, and at one point I was on track at the same time as Rossi, which is always a pleasure.
I've definitely completed a lot of laps over the two days here, and we've worked very hard. Unfortunately, despite the great efforts of everyone on the team, we cannot be satisfied with our result or performance. We were honestly expecting more, especially considering this is a track where I had a strong race last year. We still need to find a way to establish a good base setup to exploit the potential of the new bike. We have another two days to test at Phillip Island, although there it will be more about preparing for the first races. We will see. I’ll go to Australia with the best possible attitude though. It was nice to see some of the MotoGP guys here too. I chatted with the Marquez brothers, Luca Marini, and at one point I was on track at the same time as Rossi, which is always a pleasure.
