GSE forced to delay European test plans
GSE Racing has announced it will postpone its European testing schedule until after the first round of the British Superbike Championship next month.
The team has so far been notable in its absence during pre-season testing, particularly as rivals Crescent Suzuki, HM Plant Honda and Hydrex Honda have conducted much of their development work on the continent.
GSE Racing has announced it will postpone its European testing schedule until after the first round of the British Superbike Championship next month.
The team has so far been notable in its absence during pre-season testing, particularly as rivals Crescent Suzuki, HM Plant Honda and Hydrex Honda have conducted much of their development work on the continent.
Now it has been confirmed that GSE, champions in 2008 with Ducati, will sample the new Yamaha YZF-R1 in the UK ahead of the first round of the season at Brands Hatch before travelling abroad to conduct a full test afterwards.
Despite the delay in the getting the bikes fully developed, team manager Colin Wright is confident that utilising data from Yamaha's World Superbike team - winners of three of the opening four races on the international stage - will ensure they remain competitive at the season opener.
"It is our intention to test in the UK prior to the first round at Brands Hatch, GSE Racing is fortunate that our partnership with Yamaha Motor UK has allowed us access to the data of the Yamaha World Superbike Team," he said.
"Following the on track success of the YZF-R1 and after reviewing the data, we took the decision to concentrate on preparing our race bike to the same spec as the factory team, their bike seems to be reasonably competitive!"
Leon Camier and new signing James Ellison will ride the Airwaves-backed Yamaha in 2009.
