Jerez hosts first 2018 WorldSBK test

Southern Spain will host two days of testing this week as all leading World Superbike teams take to the track at Jerez. A tight schedule will see just 12 hours of track time across the two days, meaning preparation will be even more critical than usual.

Greg Haines reports from Jerez de la Frontera

Jerez is the first of two unofficial collective WorldSBK tests this week, with the second two-day outing coming at Portimao on Sunday and Monday. The World Champion Kawasaki Racing Team has rented out the Spanish venue, with a further 11 WorldSBK teams and a host of World Supersport squads set to join them; WorldSSP will include Kenan Sofuoglu, back in action for the first time since Qatar.

Forecast_JerezTest_Jan18 — Weather forecast for Jerez test

The locals say there has been some rain in the area since the turn of the New Year, although none is expected across the course of the test. The WorldSBK riders will have the track available until 6pm on each of the two days, although running won’t begin until the later-than-usual time of 12 noon. The reason? What has been described to me as a ‘high tech car test’ – and seemingly a rather secretive one.

The Jerez circuit will provide Live Timing, while I’ll be posting regular updates from my GregHainesTV social media channels: Twitter / Instagram. A Torque On podcast will be recorded from the circuit featuring the latest from riders in the pit lane and journalists in the Media Centre.

– WorldSBK LINE-UP, JEREZ TEST –

Kawasaki Racing Team Jonathan Rea & Tom Sykes
Aruba Ducati Chaz Davies & Marco Melandri
Aruba Junior Team Michael Ruben Rinaldi
Pata Yamaha Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark & Niccolo Canepa
Milwaukee Aprilia Eugene Laverty & Lorenzo Savadori
Althea BMW Loris Baz
MV Agusta Jordi Torres
Red Bull Honda Leon Camier & Jake Gagne
Puccetti Kawasaki Toprak Razgatlioglu
Pedercini Racing Yonny Hernandez
Guandalini Yamaha Ondrej Jezek
Orelac Kawasaki Leandro Mercado