Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes2014 Portimao SBK TestJust before the extended-summer break in 2014 World Superbike, a few teams participated in a two-day official DWO (Dorna World Superbike Organization) test at Portimao’s Autodromo International do Algarve.
The man who led the way both days was no surprise – the reigning World SBK Champion Tom Sykes. The Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R pilot, along with teammate Loris Baz who finished third fastest, worked on tuning the Ninja. The same couldn’t be said of the Kawasaki Racing Team EVO counterpart, though. David Salom worked on developing new parts for next year’s Kawasaki machine.The current-points leader Sykes put in a fastest lap of 1:42.719 during the morning session. The next fastest rider was Aprilia Racing Team’s Sylvain Guintoli.The Frenchman and his teammate Marco Melandri – who finished fourth quickest – both crashed, but walked away unharmed. Guintoli’s luck worsened during the final moments of Tuesday’s morning session. He lost the rear on his RSV4, and crashed hard; this ended his Tuesday practice.The quickest Ducati 1199 Panigale pilot was Davide Giugliano. The Italian, along with Ducati Superbike teammate Chaz Davies, tested new Pirelli front and rear tires, with the team able to identify some interesting solutions. In addition, the riders tried some new suspension settings and a new anti-wheelie setting, something that both Davies and Giugliano were pleased with.Though he missed the last round at Laguna Seca due to injuries sustained at Portimao World SBK, MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s Claudio Corti returned to action during the test, lapping the Portuguese circuit 93 times over both days.Other EVO riders Alessandro Andreozzi (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) made good use of the track time available to further gel with their EVO ZX-10R machines.2014 World Superbike Official DWO Test from Portimao: 1. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’42.719 2. Guintoli S. (FRA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’42.954 3. Baz L. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’43.110 4. Melandri M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’43.315 5. Giugliano D. (ITA) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1’43.592 6. Davies C. (GBR) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1’43.742 7. Corti C. (ITA) MV Agusta F4 RR 1’44.485 8. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1’44.487 9. Andreozzi A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1’44.924 10. Guarnoni J. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R EVO 1’45.109
This week, Senior Editor Nic de Sena rides the all new Ducati Monster. Big changes have been made by Ducati–has the company ruined the considerable heritage of the iconic Monster–or are the changes worth it? In the second part of the show, we chat with Nick Ienatsch, Founder and Head Instructor at the Yamaha Champions Riding School. He says: “We aim to change your riding life by introducing you to Champions Habits: The techniques, approaches, skills, and the mindsets of the best riders in the world. These Champions Habits are the foundation of safety and consistency to whatever speed you ride, in any venue on any bike. Street riders, this is just as much for you as track riders. The best way to make safe riders is to make good riders.“ We hope you enjoy this episode!
