Voltcom Crescent Suzuki powers out for first day of testing
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki began its on-track preparations for this season’s eni FIM Superbike World Championship in earnest today at an inclement Almeria Circuit in Spain.
Eugene Laverty and Alex Lowes were both in action at the 4,025m long Spanish track – the team’s first appearance since announcing the completed 2014 line up – and were equally eager to get down to business on their respective Yoshimura-powered GSX-Rs. Working on a range of updates, the team’s main focus initially was the 2014 Öhlins suspension – which proved a success – before switching to initial evaluation of new electronic control strategies developed over the winter.
More akin to the team’s home climate than that of southern Spain, with temperatures in the low teens, the weather played its role in today’s events as rain halted progress this morning, with the main business getting underway after midday.
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki is back on track tomorrow, in what promises to be a brighter day, to continue the analysis and development before travelling to Portimao for another two-day testing event at the Portuguese circuit this weekend.
Paul Denning, Team Manager:
“A solid, if rather cold, first day for the 2014 Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team! Both riders were very happy with a number of new developments in suspension, riding position, gear-shift speed and braking performance.
“Alex was using the known 2013 electronic control strategies and got up to speed very quickly, with lap times significantly better than we achieved here as a team in the first test last year. He looks really comfortable on the Suzuki and has adapted very well.
“Eugene is very enthused by the bike but less enthused today by some glitches – we suffered some frustrations working with the all new electronics, but this is the price of development, and the data gathered today will allow us to take big steps forward tomorrow. When we find the ideal balance between helping the riders control the power delivery and releasing enough performance, things will quickly progress.”