2019 BSB Test
Monteblanco Day One
Former Aprilia Gresini Racing and Pramac Ducati MotoGP rider Scott Redding made and impressive start as the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship kicked off today (Wednesday) with the opening day of official testing at Monteblanco in Spain. The Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4 rider set the benchmark pace, toppling fellow debutant Xavi Forés by 0.169s with Jason O’Halloran also cutting the advantage on his final run in third.
The opening day of BSB testing got underway on a glorious sunny spring day at the Spanish circuit with Forés setting an early pace and holding the position on his second visit to the track as he prepares for his debut season in Bennetts BSB.
Redding though had been chipping away and on his penultimate run of the day he moved ahead of his Spanish rival with a string of faster laps as the Ducati V4R debuted for the first time in Bennetts BSB.
Forés improved in the closing ten minutes of the last session of the day as he completed his final run of laps, but it wasn’t enough to relegate Redding from leading the time sheets on close.
Redding said:
“It has been a good first day here in Monteblanco and have had great fun on the bike, understanding a lot of things and the team have been amazing – we have gelled really well. I actually miss them from the last test so it has been a relief after a long wait and I am looking forward to tomorrow to actually test some things on the bike, working with the new engine and the electronics to find the best ways. Day one is done and I am really happy and can’t wait to get back out tomorrow.”
Australian O’Halloran demonstrated that he was adapting well to his McAMS Yamaha YZF-R1M, closing in on Redding and Forés in the final minutes and only ending up 0.321s the leader Redding.
Danny Buchan saved his best until his last run of the day onboard his FS-3 Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R as he claimed fourth, pushing back the OMG Racing Suzuki GSXR piloted Luke Mossey in the closing minutes of the day.
Tarran Mackenzie made it both McAMS Yamahas inside the top ten as he posted the sixth fastest time ahead of Claudio Corti who had been riding impressively until a unfortunate ended his charge crash, but he was unhurt and able to finish the day.
Glenn Irwin led the Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki assault as the title-winning team bid to retain their crown, he was marginally faster than his younger brother Andrew on the Honda Racing Fireblade with Josh Brookes completing the top ten.
| Bennetts British Superbike Championship, | |||
| Monteblanco, Official Test, Day 1 result: | |||
| 1 | Scott Redding | (Be Wiser Ducati) | 1m:38.385s |
| 2 | Xavi Forés | (Honda Racing) | +0.169 |
| 4 | Jason O’Halloran | (McAMS Yamaha) | +0.321s |
| 5 | Danny Buchan | (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) | +0.750s |
| 6 | Luke Mossey | (OMG Racing Suzuki) | +0.792s |
| 7 | Tarran Mackenzie | (McAMS Yamaha) | +0.853s |
| 8 | Claudio Corti | (Team WD-40 Kawasaki) | +0.872s |
| 9 | Glenn Irwin | (Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki) | +0.883s |
| 10 | Andrew Irwin | (Honda Racing) | +0.978s |
| 11 | Josh Brookes | (Be Wiser Ducati) | +1.100s |
BSB moves to Portimao for the penultimate test on 17 – 18 March.
Source: MCNews.com.au