Progress for BSB returnee at Oulton Park test but “still working” on core issue

Honda BSB rider Jason O’Halloran says he is “still working” in one particular area of the setup of his CBR1000RR-R after the final preseason test at Oulton Park although he feels he made “progress” on the second day there.

The Australian returns to BSB this year with the Honda Racing UK team he initially stepped into the class with over a decade ago, but was down in 14th on the combined times at the Oulton Park test on 21–22 April.

28-time BSB race winner O’Halloran had told Crash.net after the Donington test that he was trying to find improvements with the Honda in braking without losing turning performance.

“We’re still obviously continuing our work with it,” he said after the Oulton Park test in an interview with Crash.net.

“I feel like today we’ve made some progress over yesterday which was good. 

“Relatively close to Ryan [Vickers] in terms of lap time, which that’s who I can compare off because we’re on the same bike. We’ve both obviously still got some work to do to catch the front guys, especially here. 

“But overall felt pretty comfortable on the bike, just doing our work, trying to make it better all the time, trying to find a balance of stopping, keeping the rear grip, managing the power – obviously BSB the electronics is difficult so you need to manage the power quite a lot.”

O’Halloran had been a year away from BSB in the Endurance World Championship. The return to the series for this year had not come with any major shocks, though, he said, even at one of the most characteristically ‘BSB-style’ circuits in Oulton Park.

“It only took a couple of laps to get back into it, which was good,” O’Halloran said.

“I thought it was going to take a little bit longer, to be fair, because Oulton is an up-and-down sort of circuit, it’s a hard circuit, but I felt comfortable straight away which was nice and we got down to work. 

“Two really solid days, plenty of information and now we’ve just got to put it together and come back for the race and do the best job we can.”

O’Halloran’s season in EWC saw him become world champion with the YART team, which was back on the top step at the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans the weekend before the Oulton Park test.

“Amazing to see them win again,” said O’Halloran.

“Had a great season with them last year and got on great with everybody, so really pleased for everyone in the team to get the first victory of the year and I’m sure they’re going to be the top team to beat for the championship.”