BSB: Kyle Ryde tops day one of the Navarra Test

Kyle Ryde was fastest overall on the opening day of the three-day official Bennetts British Superbike Championship pre-season test at Navarra, Spain.

It’s the BSB paddock’s first official outing in Spain since 2020, and follows MSVR’s purchase of Navarra towards the end of last season. The circuit hosted the World Superbike Championship in 2021.

Ryde, who remains with reigning champions OMG Racing for 2023, has raced at Navarra before thanks to his time in the CEV Spanish Championship. He posted a best lap-time of 1:38.833 onboard his Yamaha R1.

In fact, Ryde was the only rider to dip into the 1:38s on the opening day. Ryde has enjoyed plenty of track time this month thanks to the OMG Racing team also testing at Andalucía.

“It has been a good day and we have gone through a lot of different bits and stuck to a plan,” Ryde said. “We went out first thing as soon as the track was open and that made this afternoon more chilled and relaxed.

“The bike felt mega, and the track felt good, we still have a lot to test over the next two days. We have lots to work on tomorrow, which are big changes so we shouldn’t be going too fast, but just to see how it feels and if it can make life easier at certain places during the year. Then the last day is about trying to go faster!”

Leon Haslam was second-fastest overall onboard a BMW M1000 RR. Haslam’s 2023 plans are yet to be confirmed; however, he had already been linked with a spot on the grid with BMW machinery prior to this test. Haslam was 0.628s slower than Ryde.

Andrew Irwin tested two different Honda Racing UK Fireblades on the opening day and locked out third and fourth spot on the timesheets. He recorded a 1:39.880 on one bike, as well as a 1:39.955 on his second machine.

Irwin has already enjoyed plenty of track time in Spain following private tests at Monteblanco and Andalucía. Irwin was the final rider to drop below 1:40.

Ryan Vickers was next up – classed as fourth in the official standings – on the second of the OMG Racing Yamaha R1s. Vickers had a strong day overall but did suffer a crash during the morning session at turn 14, costing him track time as a result.

Glenn Irwin was fifth on his first outing back with the PBM Ducati team. Irwin re-joins Paul Bird’s squad following his departure from Honda Racing UK. Irwin ended the day with a personal best lap-time of 1:40.295.

Spaniard Héctor Barberá was sixth as he prepares for his return to the series with TAG Honda. It’s the former MotoGP racer’s first visit to the Navarra circuit.

Danny Kent’s impressive start to life onboard a Honda Fireblade continued in seventh spot, narrowly beating reigning Quattro Group British Supersport Champion Jack Kennedy. Tommy Bridewell was ninth overall on his debut with PBM Ducati.

Rookie Max Cook continued to make progress in the Superbike class with Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki, ending his one and only day at Navarra in 10th spot. Cook makes the leap from the Pirelli Junior Superstock Championship after dominating that class in 2022.

Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon narrowly missed out on a place in the top 10 on his debut with the team. Iddon jumps back on the Ducati V4 R this season, the bike which he achieved three race wins on whilst with PBM Ducati (2020-2021).

Bradley Perie impressed for VisionTrack Kawasaki in 12^th, whilst Lee Jackson and Charlie Nesbitt were 13^th and 14^th respectively. Nesbitt’s Hawk Racing teammate Josh Owens was 15^th, with the pair looking to adapt to Honda machinery.