BSB: Winter testing set to commence in Spain

Most of the Bennetts British Superbike grid will kick start their 2018 winter testing programmes over the next week as they swap ‘snowmageddon’ for southern Spain.

The annual Cartagena Pro-Test, run by ex-Honda boss Barry Symmons, will get underway tomorrow with a large portion of the 2018 grid in attendance alongside a number of Supersport, Superstock, Motostar, Ducati Cup and road racing competitors.

The test will run until Monday with superbike teams splitting their time on track through those days.

Josh Brookes will make his debut on the McAMS Yamaha from Thursday morning alongside new team-mate Tarran Mackenzie, while Gino Rea will get his first taste of the OMG Racing Suzuki Superbike machine. Tommy Bridewell will also make his Halsall Racing return at the test.

Reigning champion Shane Byrne will be on track on the 2^nd and 3^rd March with team-mate Glenn Irwin and the PBM team, while Peter Hickman, Sylvain Barrier and the Smiths BMW team will be on track from 2^nd-5^th. MotoRapido Ducati are also in attendance with Taylor Mackenize.

Tyco BMW riders Christian Iddon and Michael Laverty will be on track for the entire test, as will Silicone Engineering’s Dean Harrison . Jake Dixon will be on track for the entire five days with the RAF Kawasaki team.

JG Speedfit Kawasaki, who started their winter testing at Jerez in November and January will return to action at Monteblanco on Monday 5^th March alongside Honda Racing with the PBM team also joining them at the circuit close to Seville for the three-day test.

James Ellison’s TAG Racing squad completed their Spanish testing in Cartagena last week, while Buildbase Suzuki’s Bradley Ray and Richard Cooper will continue to test in the UK (when the weather improves) after their foray in Cartagena in January. 

A number of teams will head to Guadix after Cartagena/Monteblanco, ahead of the official Bennetts BSB test at Donington Park on March 20^th, where the first round of the season will also commence between 31^st March and 2^nd April.

CARTAGENA PRO TEST – Thursday 1^st March – Monday 5^th March 

Rider	Team	Days on track
Sylvain Barrier	Smiths BMW	3rd – 5th
Peter Hickman	Smiths BMW	3rd-5th
Tommy Bridewell	Halsall Racing	1st – 5th
Josh Brookes	McAMS Yamaha	1st – 4th
Tarran Mackenzie	McAMS Yamaha	1st – 4th
Danny Buchan	FS3 Kawasaki	1st – 5th
Shane Byrne	Be Wiser Ducati	2nd-3rd
Glenn Irwin	Be Wiser Ducati	2nd-3rd
Jake Dixon	RAF Reserves Kawasaki	1st – 5th
Christian Iddon	Tyco BMW	1st – 5th
Michael Laverty	Tyco BMW	1st – 5th
Martin Jessopp	Riders BMW	2nd-5th
Taylor Mackenzie	MotoRapido Ducati	1st – 5th
Carl Phillips	Gearlink Kawasaki	3rd-5th
Gino Rea	OMG Racing Suzuki	1st – 5th

MONTEBLANCO TEST – Monday 5^th March – Wednesday 7^th March

Rider	Team	Days on track
Dan Linfoot	Honda Racing	5th-7th
Jason O’Halloran	Honda Racing	5th-7th
Leon Haslam	JG Speedfit Kawasaki	5th-7th
Luke Mossey	JG Speedfit Kawasaki	5th-7th
Shane Byrne	Be Wiser Ducati	5th – 7th
Glenn Irwin	Be Wiser Ducati	5th – 7th