van der Goorbergh breaks lap record.

New Proton Team Roberts rider Jurgen van der Goorbergh ended his first full test on the three-cylinder KR3 500 by smashing the lap record at the Spanish Almeira circuit.

The 30-year-old Dutchman circulated the England-built lightweight machine comfortably inside the track's fastest-ever motorcycle lap, which was set this year by SBK race-winner Troy Bayliss, riding a factory Ducati fitted with super- sticky 'qualifying' tyres.

"It was good to take the record at the end," said van der Goorbergh. "More important was that we accomplished very thorough testing over three good days. We tried a lot of different settings and equipment, and established a good direction for the 2000 machine.

"The tests confirmed all my feelings about next year," continued the rider, whose enthusiasm for the giant-killing project founded and run by racing legend Kenny Roberts was reinforced still further. "The team and I worked very well together, and the performance of the bike proved its potential.

"If our development programme continues to go so well, I am still confident that we can achieve top-three results, and surprise a few people at some tracks," the Dutchman concluded.

It would appear no idle threat. Riding a privateer-level production twin-cylinder Honda during the 2000 season, van der Goorbergh was a constant menace to the slower factory riders on much more powerful V4 machines, and a clear winner of the IRTA Cup for privateers.

KR factory engineer and tester Nigel Bosworth also took part in the tests, concentrating on new aerodynamic bodywork developed in the wind-tunnel, and the English ex-GP racer will continue interim testing until the next round of full tests, at the same track in January.

Team manager Chuck Aksland reflected the positive mood engendered by the highly production three days, in bright sunshine and unseasonably warm Spanish sunshine. "It's been a while since this team's broken any track record." he grinned.

The Almeira circuit combines tight, technical corners with a fairly long straight - ideal for the development programme of the Mk3 version of the machine. "During the season, we were working on part-throttle performance, and we did a lot more at the tests."

As well as tailoring the bike to fit van der Goorbergh precisely, and testing chassis, suspension and engine variations, the Proton team also tested the new 16.5-inch Michelin tyres for the first time.

"The 2001 bike will basically be a development of the 2000 machine, with a lot of detail improvements," explained Aksland.