Renegade test on last year’s bikes

Renegade Ducati riders Sean Emmett and Michael Rutter were testing at Cadwell Park last weekend despite the fact that the bikes they intend to ride in this year’s British Superbikes championship have not arrived yet.

The WSB spec 998F02 bikes the team ordered from Ducati Corse have still not turned up, so the two riders were out at Cadwell on the 998 Testastrettas that Rutter rode last year.

The team’s other superbike rider, Nick Medd, was forced to sit out the test after fracturing his collarbone while riding a motocross bike earlier in the week.

Emmett posted a fastest lap of 1:25.5, only 0.62 seconds slower than Steve Hislop’s fastest lap at last year’s championship round, despite this being his first time on a race track since breaking his wrist in the final round last year.

Emmett said: “It was good to get back out on a bike again, and even better to be up to speed almost straight away. The bike is a big improvement on the Ducati I rode last season and I felt comfortable on it from the off. I’d be happy to race it as it is now – it’s an awesome bit of kit. Having said that, I’m obviously looking forward to getting my hands on the 998FO2. My wrist was a bit sore after the first day, but it hasn’t caused me any problems on the bike and it feels absolutely fine now, ”

Supersport rider Leon Haslam was without his race bike, too, so had to resort to putting in laps on a standard Ducati 748. He used the time to re-learn the circuit, having spent the last three years racing GPs.

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