Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz end up satisfied at Phillip Island

With the start of the Superbike season getting closer, the riders of Kawasaki, Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz have enjoyed three days of good weather in the unofficial training sessions held at the Australian circuit of Phillip Island.

Sykes was the fastest rider on the first day of testing, handing over the baton to Carlos Checa for the last two days, but demonstrating that his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is capable of going head to head with anyone, being just one tenth behind Checa in the race simulation.

Lascorz continues to develop the bike on his own, using his own settings and seeking the setup that best suits his riding style, and has been among the top five riders in the combined timing sheet over the three days of testing.

Meanwhile, Tom Sykes, who had already ridden the bike before, only made minor adjustments to his machine to work in warmer conditions, like those at the Australian circuit. In addition, he suffered the interruptions that occurred during training due to crashes and several types of wildlife that appeared on the track.

Statements from Tom Sykes:

The third day went quite well. We were able to try a lot of things in the hot conditions we had. I also found a good balance in the bike’s setup.

We made many adjustments and set very good times. It’s now hard to know how the others will be in terms of their bikes’ setup, but we are ready for the official tests next week. That’s where we’ll really prepare for the start of the season.

Statements from Joan Lascorz:

I haven’t yet decided on my final setup, and I have to make the most of the two tests next week to decide which direction to go. I have two bikes with different setups that work well, but I have to choose one.

If we use race tyres in the next test, I’ll be able to make a final decision. The two days we have left before the start of the championship will be really important for me.

Source and photos | Kawasaki racing team