Byrne and Easton positive after wrapping up Spanish tests

The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki pairing of Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Stuart Easton have today (Monday) completed their Spanish pre-season testing schedule at Almeria as the team now return to the UK for their final tests ahead of the Brands Hatch opening round this Easter (6-9 April).

After the opening four days at Aragon and Cartagena Easton decided to sit out of the test today as he continues to prepare himself for his return to racing after recovering from injury. Byrne meanwhile was feeling positive at the end of the final day and admits he is impressed with the new Kawasaki as the team now return to analyse the data ahead of their next UK test.

Byrne said: “It has been a good end to the test and we are definitely making progress. After Cartagena we knew there were still some modifications we want to make but I am feeling pleased with how we were running today and that we were able to run laps consistently.

“There are things we still need to test but I am happy where we are at heading home. We know that Almeria is notoriously hard for tyres but we have had some consistent runs today so overall we are really positive. I need to thank the boys as they have done a great job.”

Easton said: “I just spent today with the team and was a spectator as I had done four days consecutively at Cartagena and decided to rest. I think the third day was my best really and I had felt pretty good and then towards the end of yesterday it did catch up with me.

“I am going to come back to the UK for some physio and then we should be good for our next test. It has been great being back with the team and it has been something to tick off my list by riding again.”

Team manager Paul Risbridger concluded: “It has been a very good test for us and we have really been building over the past few days. The weather today at Almeria has been spot on and Shakey was able to test at another track which has different characteristics to the previous two which has been valuable for us.

“Stuart didn’t go out on track today, but after four days he has achieved what he needed to do. We have been getting progressively better in various areas and now we can evaluate what we have learnt here and move forward again when we return to the UK.”