2016 ZX-10R World Superbike Test

The Kawasaki Racing Team begins its third shakedown of the revised 2016 ZX-10R at Motorland Aragon this week. The 2013 World SBK Champion Tom Sykes and his teammate, the reigning World SBK Champion Jonathan Rea, will test the ZX-10R at the open and swift Spanish circuit.

Read our 2016 Kawasaki ZX-10R Preview

For Sykes, this will be his third test aboard the 2016 ZX-10R, the Brit having rode the machine twice at Jerez. For Rea, it’ll be his second test; he missed the first one due to the birth of his son.

After this two day test KRT will make one more session with the 2016 machine and race parts at Jerez before the start of the official winter test ban, which runs through all of December and half of January.

Jonathan Rea says: “I had a great initial impression in Jerez with the new bike. We worked through items on the test list but we have more to test at Motorland. I hope the weather will be good for two days here because we need to define some of the new material soon, evaluate it and make sure we have clear conclusions so we can order parts for the January tests. It will be another case of working through options and understanding how the bike is working on a different track. At this time year it is a lot cooler than at most races so we get good weather because the window for riding is relatively small so we need to be productive.”

Tom Sykes says” “I had a really nice week of holiday with the whole family down in a forest in the south west of England. It was a nice break so I am really looking forward to the next test. Every time I get on the new bike I get a bigger smile on my face. We have lost a little bit of time during some of the earlier tests but I am feeling very happy with the team and the bike.

“I am really enjoying myself again. Even considering where we are now, with some tests left to do, I feel we are competitive. We still have some more things to try in the most interesting development direction. I have to say that the direction we went in between 2012 to 2104 is the same direction this new bike has been developed for. It is all positive, it all adds up and it all makes sense.”

Guim Roda, Team Manager KRT, says: “The next Motorland test will be the second time we have been there in three weeks. After the most recent test in Jerez it will be especially important to continue testing all the ideas – on set-up and new part combinations – that the crew and KHI have created to improve the package we had in 2015, with the basis of the 2016 model. Is incredible to see the riders’ motivation and the hunger they each have to win next year.

“I’m sure this will improve the competitive level of each and I’m sure other teams will have to work a lot. Both riders are finishing 2015 on a very good level. Is amazing the easy way in which they push to the limit and give feedback of so many small details to help improve the bike. To see them both do that is really impressive. I expect both of them can explore the limits even better in 2016 than they did in 2015.”