MSS Discovery Kawasaki Racing completed their second test of 2007 as they race to be ready for the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike series, which kicks off at Brands Hatch in less than a month. Testing was originally due to carry on at Valencia this week, but instead the team decided to return back to their Essex base and prepare the machines in time for the official BSB test that the team is duty-bound to attend at Snetterton this weekend.
MSS Discovery Racing, which is the UK’s only officially supported team of Kawasaki Motors UK, will field Stuart Easton on a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R in the British Supersport Championship and Michael Rutter on a Ninja ZX-10R throughout 2007.
Michael Rutter, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R “At the end of the day I think on race rubber we were a little way off the front boys at Albacete but there’s a good reason for that. The other guys were trying real hard, with Leon Haslam and Karl Harris crashing, but we’ve only got one bike at the moment and crashing it isn’t an option! With two bikes, which we should have at Snetterton this weekend I’ll be able to try more things and we have so many things to do! We have the package, but now we need to fine-tune it. I think Snetterton will be a more accurate gauge, as Albacete isn’t really very representative of a UK track. Even then, as racing always proves, you only know where you are by the first race. Everyone is working so hard and the team atmosphere is unbelievable I think this is probably the best team I’ve ever worked in.”
Stuart Easton, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R “The three day test wasn’t too bad at all, although as always it could have been better. We tried lots of things with the set-up, finding the right balance for the bike and my boys are working so hard. We endurance tested one of the 600s, which was good, but now we’re looking forward to the Snetterton test which is very important for us. We are all hoping the weather is decent enough to get plenty more work done. I’m hopeful that we’ll have more speed from the engine and then we need to refine the package that we already have. The atmosphere and spirit in the team is amazing, which is very positive. They all work hard and have a good laugh and everyone gets stuck in.”
Nick Morgan, Team owner“Another very positive test. I think the ZX-6R is about 70% there while the 10R is about 60%. We’ve got a long way to go and new bits for both bikes are turning up daily. We’re also developing the bikes as fast as we’re getting the parts. We’re developing a new airbox for the big bike and Ken Summerton has some tricks up his sleeve for the suspension, too. We endurance tested the 6R with Stuart which is a very valuable thing to do as Michael will be riding one at both the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT. We’re looking forward to this weekend’s Snetterton test which is vital to us.”
Stuart Simmonds, joint team owner“We always knew this venture was going to be a tough one. We didn’t even know that we were going Superbike racing until Christmas so we were always expecting to be up against it. We know we’re behind the rest of the Superbike grid when it comes to preparation but what is clear is the team’s determination to be ready for that first race.”
Next test: Official Bennetts British Superbike test session. Snetterton, Norfolk – 23rd-25th March
Related Linkswww.mssdiscoveryracing.com
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