JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam and new team mate Luke Mossey have started the 2017 British Superbike season with a two-day test at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain.

They joined riders from WorldSBK, World Supersport and European Superstock 1000 for the first pre-season outing for the team on 24^th and 25^th January.

At the end of day one, the 2016 BSB championship runner-up was already clocking up lap times that bettered his test times at Jerez in 2016 while Mossey, who had to learn the circuit, having not visited Jerez since 2010, spent the first day getting accustomed to the significant changes that have been to his 2017 Kawasaki ZX10RR machine.

On day two both Haslam and Mossey were able to pick up the pace as they started to work through the different settings on their new bikes.

Haslam said it’s been a positive start to the season: “I’ve had a really good couple of days in Spain getting to know the new team and going through the process of testing and evaluating the new bike.

“My lap times were much faster than last year and I know all the JG Speedfit Kawasaki guys are going to work really hard over the next month in preparation for the next test in Spain.”

Mossey added: “It’s been a really good opening test and it’s nice to blow the cobwebs off. We’ve changed suspension manufacturers this year so we’ve had to adjust to that but on the whole it’s been really positive and I’m looking forward to the next test in Cartagena in March.”

Jack Valentine, JG Speedfit Kawasaki Team Manager, said: “We’ve worked hard since the end of the 2016 season to get the right team in place and with this very early test we have gained lots of data from both riders to be able to supply the technicians with so we can be in a stronger position next time we come to Spain.

“The weather in Spain was perfect for our first outing both Leon and Luke had a great few days working on new suspension, engine specs, electronics and swinging arm set-ups. They improved with every session and I’d like to thank the whole team for their dedication and commitment as well as JG Speedfit for their continued support.

“Testing alongside the Kawasaki World Superbike squad has been a really valuable experience, especially for young Luke who clocked up some really impressive times which were less than half a second slower than his more experienced team mate.

“Leon will be out to prove that he has what it takes to go one better and win the championship in 2017 and we believe with the right crew and bike he will be a championship contender along with his team mate Luke Mossey.

Both riders are now keen to get back on track on the 1^st March.

The rest of the testing schedule is as follows:

1^st to 4^th March – Pro-test at Cartagena

5^th to 6^th March – Guadix MCE British Superbike test

24^th March – MCE British Superbike test at Donington Park

20^th April – MCE British Superbike test at Oulton Park

To keep up to date with the latest news from JG Speedfit Kawasaki you can follow the team on Facebook @BournemouthKawasaki on Twitter @BournemouthKawa

Ends

Notes to Editors

• The line-up for JG Speedfit Kawasaki consists of British Superbike riders Leon Haslam and Luke Mossey, road racing specialist James Hillier and 2016 sidecar champions Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood.
• The team is owned by Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing.
• Derbyshire-based Leon Haslam finished runner-up in the 2016 British Superbike Championship while Cambridgeshire-based Luke Mossey secured his highest ever British Superbike Championship season finish last year in sixth place.
• The team’s 2017 International Road racing events at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT will be contested by James Hillier. Last season, Hillier secured three podiums earning him fourth overall in the 2016 TT riders’ championship.
• 2016 British F1 Sidecar Champions Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood are being retained by Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing for a second year and will be going for their third championship win in a row this year.

For further information about this news release please contact:

Kate Strawson

Director, Shooting Star

kate@weareshootingstar.co.uk

01522 528540

07733 230293

@Kate Strawson