The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has seen four rounds out of 12 so far and with the fifth coming up at Donington Park, it’s important to hit the ground running. Team HRC riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge tested recently at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, where more progress was found. Talking in further details, team boss Jose Escamez, who outlined “small positives” after working tirelessly in conditions that, whilst not ideal, they hoped to find.
GLASS HALF FULL: ‘On one side, it’s been very positive and on the other, we’ve found some kind of inconvenience’
“We came here in order to find some answers at a place where we used to struggle due to a lack of grip, which has always been our weakness,” began Escamez, who replaced Leon Camier as team principal this season. “We have confirmed some of the things we tested lately. On one side, it’s been very positive but on the other, whilst we can’t say it’s been negative, we have found some kind of inconvenience that we still need to analyse, to find out why we still have these kind of reactions. So far, I think we’re making little steps since the last tests and the race at Misano, we strongly believe that little by little, we will make the improvements we’re looking for.”
Bad weather hampered Monday’s plan – not the first time rain has played a crucial part in HRC’s disrupted test plan, after Portimao’s futile attendance in December and Cremona’s big rain showers in May. “Unfortunately, we thought we could test here on Monday but due to the weather, we had to postpone it and we shared the track with some endurance teams and we appreciate that they allowed us to ride with them. The track condition wasn’t perfect, it is what it is and actually, it’s what we were looking for. To be competitive in circumstances where we used to struggle the most. It’s quite similar to what we’ll find at Donington Park next week.”
“LITTLE BY LITTLE, WE’RE GETTING TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE” – Escamez optimistic of more gains
Citing small gains which overall is something they’ll hope will make a big difference, Escamez saluted the efforts of techinicians, engineers and mechanics after what’s been a difficult start to 2024: “We found small positive things and on the other hand, we need to understand why some things that we tested didn’t behave as we expected. Little by little, we’re getting to where we want to be and I’m looking forward and being optimistic. I want to be grateful for all the team members who are working really, really hard – in Japan and also here. The engineers and the mechanics too, it’s been a really difficult season, spending so much time away and working so hard, so a special mention to them and the hard work they’re doing.”
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Source: WorldSBK.com