Triumphant Test for FPR at EuroSpeedway
FPR’s rider pairing of Steve Martin and Craig Jones
today completed a comprehensive and valuable three day Pirelli-organised
test, at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz circuit in Germany.
With both riders having worked through the tyre test programme,
achieved sound chassis set-ups and completed final evaluations
of the latest PETRONAS FP1 developments over three trouble-free
days, the team is upbeat as it heads to Brno for the next
round of the Superbike World Championship.
Craig, who spent much of the day evaluating different chassis
set-ups as well as front and rear tyres on the 4.265km tight
and twisty circuit, sliced almost another second off his time
to record a fastest lap of 1:40.5.
Steve was also able to improve on his best lap from yesterday,
to post a time of 1:40.1 on race tyres – faster than
his qualifying and quickest time on the PETRONAS FP1 during
last year’s race weekend at the German track.
Craig said, “I started off with a completely new setting
this morning based on Steve’s setting from yesterday,
which I liked and made good ground from the outset. We then
fine tuned it, mainly in the suspension area, and that made
the bike a bit easier to ride and I started to go quicker.
I’ve also tested all the tyres we needed to and luckily
all the ones I like are going to be on the allocation for
the race here. I’m definitely pleased with how this
test has gone overall and hopefully will be able to continue
progressing in the same vein throughout the second half of
this season.”
Steve commented, “It’s been a very useful test
as we’ve been able to pinpoint very specific areas where
we need to improve for this track. On race tyres I’ve
been able to sit at the same lap times as I did in qualifying
last year and, the latest bike developments have been tested
successfully. That proves again that we’re moving forward
all the time with the FP1 and provides encouragement going
into the next races.”
The three day EuroSpeedway test was attended by all the tyre
development teams representing each World Superbike manufacturer
(PETRONAS, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Ducati and Honda) along
with all of the top team riders in the championship.
EuroSpeedway has been used as a World Superbike venue on
three occasions in 2001, 2002 and 2005 and Steve, riding on
Pirelli tyres, claimed provisional pole in 2001 despite competing
against riders on the then more proven Michelin and Dunlop
rubber.
Foggy PETRONAS Racing and the World Superbike paddock return
to EuroSpeedway for the tenth round of the Championship on
10 September.
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