Superbike: Hayden debuts the new Honda CBR

The two-day test in Aragon, which started yesterday Monday 16 November at Motorland, did not start in the best way: thick fog and cold discouraged the numerous protagonists of the production-derived world championship present.

Only at 16pm, just half an hour before the end, did the sun finally come out to improve the conditions of the track and make it favorable for testing, but the temperature did not go above seven degrees, hindering the work of the stables.

The attention, as well as inevitably on the continuation of the teams' work after the Jerez tests, was entirely on Nicky Hayden, who returned to Superbike after 13 seasons in MotoGP, with the victory of the world title in 2006.
Yesterday's test for the American was a return to his origins given that in 2002 he won the American Superbike championship title.

Despite less than favorable weather conditions, Hayden tested the Honda CBR1000RR SP, becoming familiar with the bike's measurements and continuing to work on the riding position.
His new teammate, the confirmed Michael Van der Mark entered the track at 11.30, completing a single lap in which he began testing various mechanical parts.

In the afternoon other riders ventured onto the track: Chaz Davies was thus able to continue work on his Panigale R, concentrating on the engine, set-up and chassis.
If the recovery program continues without a hitch, the vice-World Champion should finally be joined by Davide Giugliano during the tests in Jerez next week.

Yamaha Motor Europe had plans to continue pre-season testing for 2016, with Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli simply continuing work on the YZR-R1, which began in Jerez last week.

The Kawasaki Racing Team only ran for the last 30 minutes of testing, with World Champion Jonathan Rea wanting to test a different riding position on the Ninja ZX-10R, as well as some changes to the chassis and engine, while Tom Sykes did not instead he took to the track.
The hope was to test everything in a race simulation, which had already been postponed in previous tests.

Also present at MotorLand were some World Supersport participants such as PJ Jacobsen of CORE” Motorsport Thailand and David Salom's DS Junior team, which is here with driver Ilya Mikhalchik, seen this year in the Superstock 600 championship.