MSS Discovery Kawasaki has begun their winter test schedule with a positive start on the first day of a three-day test at the Spanish circuit of Almeria. The test is a shakedown of the new-for-2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10Rs that riders Stuart Easton and Billy McConnell will campaign in this year’s 12-round series. The team will stay at Almeria for a further two days, before having a day off prior to further testing at the Guadix circuit.
Stuart Easton, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
“This is the first time I’ve been on a bike since August, so it’s like I’ve retired and made a comeback! I was pretty rusty for the morning, but after lunch made some changes with softer fork springs, a few little geometry alterations and chipped away with the new bike. To be fair we’ve had a real good day – Nick’s happy – which is good!
A similar level of progress would be nice over the next few days. My initial feelings on the new bikes are very positive – it drops into corners quicker than last year’s machine, but it’s still stable. We’ve got a lot to come from the chassis with changes to the geometry, so this is the tip of the iceberg, but the early signs are very good indeed.”
Billy McConnell, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
“We’re not too far off at all considering. It’s such early days, so we’ve got a fair bit more engine work to come, so it’s still a bit raw, but chassis-wise it feels good. I have to admit things are very positive as I thought we would be a bit further off, but this thing is a weapon straight from the box.
I’ve had a few months off over the summer (your winter!) so you always think there’s something wrong with you or the bike the first time you ride after such a lay-off, but this feels mint! I’m really excited to be back in the Superbike class: we’re making the first steps in the right direction in what is going to be a good year. Let’s hope we can have another good day tomorrow, and throughout our test schedule.”
Nick Morgan, Team Owner
“We’ve had a positive first day and we’re very pleased with the progress both boys have made. Stuart’s been away from a bike for quite a while thanks to his injury, while Billy’s been off ‘enjoying’ winter down-under – despite this both lads were really ‘on it’ and within a few tenths of each other. We’re not too far off the big teams in terms of times, but this is really a shakedown on the new Ninja ZX-10Rs. The bikes themselves I’d say are in a ‘foetal state’ and about 45% there. We’ll get the bikes sorted very quickly, but we’re running a few standard parts in the engine and are running the bike with fairly standard geometry.
What’s impressed us with these new 10Rs, is that despite this, the bikes turn in quicker than last year’s model, holds a line better and still hasn’t lost any stability. We’re running an ‘anti-spin’system on the bikes and will be testing this over the course of the schedule. We’re impressed with how close we are to the big teams, as we know there’s so much more to come from both the bikes and the riders. One of the big changes has been the move to Pirelli tyres and they’re here in force. We’ve been trying different compounds and doing some proper race distances on them so the boys can get to grips with them as quickly as possible.
On other matters, the Gearlink Kawasaki Supersport team are here and it’s a pleasure to give them some help as we concentrate on the Superbike class for 2008. I’d also like to make comment about MotorSport Vision becoming rights holders for the British Superbike Championship. We’re hoping that with the benefit of Jonathan Palmer’s vision some of the smaller teams like us will reap the benefit in some way in the future.
Personally, I didn’t know what Dorna did – either for the teams or anyone else. Let’s hope that at some point we – the teams – get something from this. We put on the show for the fans: no teams, means the fans won’t want to watch so we’ve all got to work together for the continued good of the series. I’m genuinely proud to be in the British Superbike Championship and although I’m not here to become a millionaire, I think it’s important that the teams are rewarded, appreciated and wanted for the effort we’re putting in. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to a fruitful relationship with MSV and Jonathan Palmer.”
Stuart Simmonds, Joint Team Owner
“It’s great that the boys have had a positive start to their test schedule. If we can keep this up, then we’ll have plenty of information with which to develop the new Ninja ZX-10R at a pace which will see us ready with our two young riders at the first race of the year at Brands on April 6th.”
