Bumper BSB field bound for Cartagena

One of the biggest pre-season tests of recent seasons is set to kick off later this week, as the MCE British Superbike field assembles at southern Spain’s Cartagena circuit for the Pro-Test.

Taking to the track tomorrow for the first of four days of testing, the entry list sees many of the championship rivals go head to head for the first time.

The entry is led by four-time BSB champion Shane Byrne and rookie teammate Glenn Irwin on the Be Wiser PBM Ducatis, giving Byrne the opportunity to directly measure the performance of his new Italian mount against his opposition for the first time.

Taking over the Kawasaki flag in big order is the JG Speedfit trio of former WSBK runner-up Leon Haslam, former BSB runner-up James Ellison and fastest ever TT newcomer Peter Hickman, who begin to wind down what has been an extensive pre-season on the new ZX-10R.

On BMW machinery, the Buildbase team of Richard Cooper and Lee Jackson are joined by the team’s road racer Michael Dunlop, while Tyco BMW’s new signing Ian Hutchinson similarly joins Michael Laverty and Christian Iddon.

Suzuki will be represented by three-time champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and his new teammate Tommy Bridewell, while the ePayMe Yamaha team of Tommy Hill will see John Hopkins and Stuart Easton’s first outing on the ex-Milwaukee Yamaha machine Josh Brookes took to title success in 2015.