Laverty and Kirkham test at Croft

Samsung Honda’s Michael Laverty and Jon Kirkham were back on track yesterday (Wednesday) as the pair completed a two day test at Croft ahead of next week’s official test at Donington Park on Tuesday.

Laverty and Kirkham who currently lie fourth and fourteenth in the overall standings respectively were able to utilise the time to focus on chassis changes ahead of the all important second half of the season. The team now have a further test next Tuesday at the circuit that will decide the last Title Fighter places in the Showdown.

Laverty said: “It’s been a successful couple of days for us. We have been experimenting with a few chassis parts recently so it was great to be able to get out on track and really analyse the differences without the pressures of a race weekend.

“We got through a long list of items that we have wanted to test in a “back to back” comparison so overall I understand the Fireblade even more.

“We have a clear direction with the chassis leading into the second and most important part of the season and with the Donington test next week as well its great bike time to keep me sharp during the break.”

Kirkham said: “It was great to be able to get out on track again especially with the break before Cadwell Park. We had a good day and a half in dry conditions before it changed.

“We had to run a slightly different exhaust because of the noise restrictions but we got through some changes to the chassis and although it isn’t a track we race at we can transfer what we have learnt to the upcoming circuits.

“We have some good ideas of what we need to work on next when we get to Donington Park on Tuesday and that should put us in a good position for Cadwell Park.”

Team manager Havier Beltran concluded: “It was a very successful test for both riders and they were able to test chassis components that we haven’t been able to focus on during the pressures of an event weekend.

“We have seen improvement from both riders and now we are ready for our next test at Donington Park next week.”