Jonathan Rea continued his impressive form aboard the HM Plant Honda throughout the hard-working three day test at the Spanish circuit of Almeria where he rounded off his determined performance with a best lap time of 1m 35.20secs. The 20 year old Ulsterman underlined his credentials to challenge for the Bennetts British Superbike crown as he outpaced riders, including his team-mate and reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, from several of the leading teams.
Making his pace all the more remarkable was that he had not ridden since a heavy crash last October had left him with serious leg injuries, but, making his debut on the factory HRC backed Fireblade, he was quick to settle back into the groove. “All in all it has been a very good work out for me,” said Rea, who last season, his second in the top flight finished fourth overall in the rankings. Along with the other riders at the test, he worked extensively on machine setting and also race simulation runs.
Leon Haslam, the runner-up last season in the title stakes, closed within a quarter of a second of him at the top of the leaderboard, and that despite taking a tumble from his Airwaves Ducati during the morning session.
Chris Walker, riding Rizla Suzuki, impressed with a lap of 1m 35.7, marginally faster than former champions Gregorio Lavilla and Shane Byrne while Kiyonari, whose best time was 1m 36.1secs, was sixth fastest.
Cal Crutchlow, who graduates into Superbikes as the British Supersport Champion, continued to make good progress, lapping in 1m 36.3secs, two tenths up on Tom Sykes who took a shaking as he tipped off the Stobart Motorsport Honda during the final morning.
Leon Camier, also riding Honda, and the Bridewell brothers, Tom and Ollie, aboard the Team NB Suzukis were also running consistently throughout as they prepared for the new season which begins at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday, 9 April.
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