While the five manufacturer-supported World Superbike teams were testing in Australia, former Foggy Petronas rider Steve Martin was continuing his preparations to beat them in Spain, with his new DFX Honda team.
With the start of the 2007 World Superbike season now just six weeks away, Martin spent the three days concentrating finding an optimum base setting for his CBR1000RR, riding alongside team-mate
Michel Fabrizio, plus the Celani Suzuki and Pedercini Ducati WSBK teams
"We made good initial progress at our first test back in November so we didn't have to start from scratch this time, which helped us get straight into testing," explained Steve after the test. "We turned the bike inside out again working on all areas including evaluation of some new parts such as the front forks, but also tested different rear suspension links, fork heights, clutch settings and gearing just to name a few, and on the final day I was feeling pretty happy with where we got to and I'm a lot more confident on the bike.
"Some new parts, including the new 2007 spec rear shock and the new engine didn't arrive in time for this test, but I've been assured by Ohlins and the team that these will be with us in time for the start of the season."
Despite DFX being a privateer team and therefore unable to benefit from testing with Pirelli's latest specification tyres, Martin was still able to achieve a lap time of 1min 36.0secs - one second quicker than at the November test, but 0.5secs behind pace setting team-mate Fabrizio.
"The conditions were really cold and not ideal for testing, especially for tyres, so to come away with the lap time that I did after only my second test on the Honda was encouraging," declared Martin. "The team is also gelling together really well and it was funny to hear my crew chief, Baz, who I've worked with for the last two years, starting to throw in the odd word of Italian into his English sentences!"
