A couple of non-official collective tests are to be run this pre-season, with the majority of World Superbike teams attending in Spain and Portugal. These gatherings precede the only Official Pre-Season Test staged at Phillip Island on 19-20th February, the Monday and Tuesday before the opening round of the new campaign.
Greg Haines reports from Barcelona
Jerez will be the first non-official test as Kawasaki rents out the venue, on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th January, before Portimao becomes the setting with Aruba Ducati organising proceedings on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th January.
An exception is the Go Eleven team, electing to run a three-day Jerez test this week (Roman Ramos on the Superbike, Michael Canducci and Lachlan Epis on the Supersport bike) while Orelac Racing, TripleM and Barni will attend only one of the scheduled tests (Orelac and TripleM will go only to Jerez, Barni to Portugal).
As for Grillini, it looks as though the team and its Suzuki bikes may not be on the 2018 grid at all, as the Italian press is reporting this week that team owner Andrea Grillini has been placed under house arrest for fraud; no representative of the team has been available for comment. The Pedercini squad has been contacted but is yet to confirm its testing plans.
Some teams have also confirmed launch dates, as detailed below.
Jerez test, 12-14th January:
Go Eleven Kawasaki
Jerez test, 23-24th January:
Kawasaki Racing Team
Aruba Ducati
Pata Yamaha
Milwaukee Aprilia
Althea BMW
MV Agusta
Red Bull Honda
Puccetti Kawasaki
Pedercini Racing
Guandalini Yamaha
Orelac Kawasaki
TripleM Honda
Portimao test, 28-29th January:
Kawasaki Racing Team
Aruba Ducati
Pata Yamaha
Milwaukee Aprilia
Althea BMW
Barni Ducati
MV Agusta
Red Bull Honda
Puccetti Kawasaki
Guandalini Yamaha
Team Launches – confirmed:
17th December 2017 – Go Eleven Kawasaki – Cuneo, Italy
20th January – Pedercini Racing – Verona, Italy
7th February – Aruba Ducati – venue TBC
8th February – Kawasaki Racing Team – venue TBC
Team Launches – To be confirmed:
Likely 22nd January – TripleM Honda – venue TBC
Likely 22nd February – Milwaukee Aprilia – Phillip Island
Early February – Puccetti Kawasaki – venue TBC
TBC – Pata Yamaha
TBC – Orelac Kawasaki
Teams not staging launches:
Althea BMW
Barni Ducati
MV Agusta
Red Bull Honda
Guandalini Yamaha
Teams unavailable for comment:
Grillini Kawasaki
Greg Haines - Commentator & Presenter 