Both new recruits made changes to the positions of the bars, footpegs and levers so that they could start to feel at home with the bike, before beginning to push hard.
The weather stayed fair for the test allowing the riders and the team to do a lot of good groundwork and gather useful information. They put in numerous lap with Neukirchner clocking over 70 and Nieto over 80.
Together they ducked under the lap record on standard race rubber, Nieto posted a best time of 1min 35.5secs and Neukirchner a time of 1min 35.00secs. Neukirchner's quick lap is faster than Max Biaggi's best race lap earlier this season.
“This test was all about me getting comfortable with the bike, so we did a lot of work with the handlebars, levers, and footpegs,” said Nieto, “My initial feeling is that the bike is very good and I have a lot to learn. I started with the Biaggi settings, but I didn't get on with them, so we've changed them quite a lot - more in the Kagayama direction I guess. The Alstare Suzuki feels more of a racebike than my bike of last year and it has a lot of potential.”
He didn't want to put pressure on himself too early on and admitted he wasn't looking for lap times, saying, “I am not thinking about lap times at this test, because I want to learn this bike first. The Alstare team is great to work with and everybody is very friendly. I am getting to know them all very quickly and already we have a very good relationship. The World Superbike Championship is not an easy race series by any means, but I am really looking forward to this new challenge.”
Neukirchner had the benefit of having raced the Alstare Suzuki before, but he was pleased to be in this new situation. “I know I've ridden the Alstare Suzuki before, but this is a different situation for me here. We spent most of the time getting the bike right for me. I enjoyed riding the bike in the last race of the year, but now it's time to get the bike dialed in for me properly.”
