Heading into the new season with a new World Superbike Championship team as well as a new recruit for their World Supersport squad with young British rider Kyle Ryde, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing have a lot of work to do before the opening round in Phillip Island.

However the team suffered a blow to their 2017 pre-season effort as reigning World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu injured himself in Supermotard training, which is forcing the Turk to sit out of the remainder of the tests.

WorldSBK rookie Randy Krummencher had a positive opening day of the Jerez testing this week, before he suffered a crash on day two which meant the Swiss rider had to sit out of the remainder of the day as a precaution.

Krummenacher explained his crash: “It was on the straight, I was behind him (Laverty) quite close and for some reason he slowed down, I had no chance to not hit him. It was a big crash and I was lucky; I just have a scar on my leg, so unlucky at the moment but lucky that there was nothing more.”

Speaking about the test, Krummenacher continues: “It went really really well, working with the team we understand each other very well.  I know about the riding style more and I’m learning. We are really on the right way and I think we have more potential than we showed today.”

British youngster Kyle Ryde was the lone WorldSSP rider aboard the ZX-6R at Jerez, and he will take on the duties of testing for both riders before the season gets underway at Phillip Island. Moving to the factory supported team, Ryde feels comfortable following the opening test:
“I’m just getting used to the bike and the new set up. I’ve been trying to make the handlebars, the foot pegs and gear levers to my liking, so it took all day to do that, and run an engine in for Phillip Island. It was nice to be part of the team, to feel important and factory for once.”

Team manager Manuel Puccetti is understandably disappointed with how the pre-season has begun, however he is to remain positive and hopeful ahead of Phillip Island:
“Kenan has broken one piece of bone inside his right hand it is a complicated situation with the hand, as it was already broken a couple of times. He can be ready for Phillip Island, but not for sure 100% and he is to compete in zero winter tests. We know he is the king of Supersport and he doesn’t need much time on track, but zero is not a lot so it will not be an easy start for him or for us. I hope he can come back 100% but we will see.”
 

The team are back on track this weekend at Portimao, hoping to get some solid testing time in, as Ryde continues to help his new World Supersport team. 

Following a productive two day test at Jerez this weekend, Jules Cluzel’s 2017 has only just begun and he’s made his first steps towards a smooth transition back to the four cylinder Honda. Leaving Jerez as the second fastest World Supersport rider, himself and the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda team were happy with progress made in Spain.

As the new season of 2017 is fast approaching, the French rider told WorldSBK official website how he hopes to bounce back from last season and is as motivated as ever to bring the fight to Kenan Sofuoglu this season. Back with the team with which he also secured runner-up spot with in 2012, it’s set to be a big year for Cluzel.

Jules, despite a difficult 2016 season, you finished runner-up, what made the difference?

“It was the perseverance above all and the not forgetting that I managed to finish second. In a nutshell, that's what really got me there.”

What have you learned from this season that will help you in 2017?

“I will be able to understand more after the first tests and first races. But we still always learn in these situations. Every season is interesting and there are always things to be learned. I think I also evolved in the eyes of the other riders. The only way to judge of all this will be in the 2017 season.”

Despite that, do you have any regrets?

“I only regret that we didn’t do better. What happened last season is now a part of the past, and we must simply draw conclusions from that to move forward on my side and use it next year.”

You’re joining CIA Landlord Insurance Honda in 2017, the team with which you experienced success in 2012, is this a source of additional motivation to take the crown?

“I'm really excited and excited to be back with the PTR team. I have always had very good relations with Simon Buckmaster. He's a team manager who really showed interest in me and just for that, it's very motivating. I am very satisfied with Simon and the whole team.”

Will you have the same team as you had in 2012 around you?

“The chief mechanic and other mechanics I had in 2012 are with other teams today, but the spirit is still present in the team. Simon is a very structured person who maintains values ​​that are important to me.”

You will ride the Honda CBR600RR which won the race in Qatar in 2016, what do you think of it?

“The Honda is a motorcycle that is older but has shown it can still win; it's a motorcycle that I think is fairly simple. It is not a complicated bike that will need many adjustments, which was also one of the reasons that helped me in my choice to return to the team.”

Will that be enough to beat Kenan in the title race?

“I think beating Kenan is possible and I know the Honda can beat the Kawasaki. We'll know more after a few races, I have this idea in my head and I will do anything to get there. This bike is regularly at the forefront and, despite being older, it is still up there. This is also what is interesting in Supersport: there are motorcycles completely different in terms of cubic capacity or aesthetics, but we are all close in the standings.

The unknown is the new Yamaha, which is the question we all ask ourselves. It is a new bike and it is one of the only parameters we do not know. I see everyone as a threat and I will not try to procrastinate; I will do my best with the material I have. I will try to be the best driver on the whole season. The important thing is not to only be a threat in one race, but to be regular threat over the entire Championship.”

What are your goals for 2017?

“Simply being the best Jules Cluzel I've ever been. I will not say more.”

Other than Phillip Island, will you participate in other test sessions?

“We have just finished the test in Jerez and will be going to Portimao this weekend. We will then have four days of testing when arriving in Australia, which is already very good”

And physically, how do you feel?

“I'm on top and I'm really happy. I have played a lot of sports, ridden lots of bikes and I feel great. Physically, I am good as well as mentally. There is more to focus on than the first event at Phillip Island.”

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK team-mates Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark had a busy two opening days on track this week, as the pair tested many parts of the new spec YZF-R1 machines.

Undergoing extensive work on the modified machines, the team continue to understand the new bikes as well as building a strong team spirit to take into the impending season. After they worked through the initial upgrades and changes, Lowes and van der Mark then went their own ways in order to begin to feel comfortable heading into the season.

British rider Lowes focused heavily on the electronic development on day one, before switching to chassis set-up on the second and final day. Corner entry and front fork set-up were key parts of the British riders test plan, as well as being able to complete a full race simulation.

“The team have been working really hard; the bike is quite a lot different from November so I feel really good,” Lowes explained “A couple of the main changes are the riding position, and some of the changes you can’t see, like the electronics that I feel a bit more comfortable with. My first couple of laps felt nice on the bike, and when you go out of pit lane and feel nice on the bike it’s obviously a big benefit.  I want to have a bit more confidence on acceleration out of the corners - I still feel like it’s an area where I can improve, so we’ll be working on that.”

New recruit to the team van der Mark spent the Jerez test focusing on his chassis and fully understanding the feeling with his YZR-R1; before modifying the electronics on the second day as he completed 145 laps around the Spanish circuit.
“I didn’t know what to expect, I’ve seen the bike on track and I’ve always seen that the handling was really good. “Exclaims the Dutchman”, Compared to the other bike the handling is a big improvement for me and the bike is really stable, I just need to be able to change my style. The R1 doesn’t really like to be pushed on the limit; I need to be smoother which is one of the things I need to change.”

Following a productive two day test at Jerez this weekend, Jules Cluzel’s 2017 has only just begun and he’s made his first steps towards a smooth transition back to the four cylinder Honda. Leaving Jerez as the second fastest World Supersport rider, himself and the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda team were happy with progress made in Spain.

As the new season of 2017 is fast approaching, the French rider told WorldSBK official website how he hopes to bounce back from last season and is as motivated as ever to bring the fight to Kenan Sofuoglu this season. Back with the team with which he also secured runner-up spot with in 2012, it’s set to be a big year for Cluzel.

Jules, despite a difficult 2016 season, you finished runner-up, what made the difference?

“It was the perseverance above all and the not forgetting that I managed to finish second. In a nutshell, that's what really got me there.”

What have you learned from this season that will help you in 2017?

“I will be able to understand more after the first tests and first races. But we still always learn in these situations. Every season is interesting and there are always things to be learned. I think I also evolved in the eyes of the other riders. The only way to judge of all this will be in the 2017 season.”

Despite that, do you have any regrets?

“I only regret that we didn’t do better. What happened last season is now a part of the past, and we must simply draw conclusions from that to move forward on my side and use it next year.”

You’re joining CIA Landlord Insurance Honda in 2017, the team with which you experienced success in 2012, is this a source of additional motivation to take the crown?

“I'm really excited and excited to be back with the PTR team. I have always had very good relations with Simon Buckmaster. He's a team manager who really showed interest in me and just for that, it's very motivating. I am very satisfied with Simon and the whole team.”

Will you have the same team as you had in 2012 around you?

“The chief mechanic and other mechanics I had in 2012 are with other teams today, but the spirit is still present in the team. Simon is a very structured person who maintains values ​​that are important to me.”

You will ride the Honda CBR600RR which won the race in Qatar in 2016, what do you think of it?

“The Honda is a motorcycle that is older but has shown it can still win; it's a motorcycle that I think is fairly simple. It is not a complicated bike that will need many adjustments, which was also one of the reasons that helped me in my choice to return to the team.”

Will that be enough to beat Kenan in the title race?

“I think beating Kenan is possible and I know the Honda can beat the Kawasaki. We'll know more after a few races, I have this idea in my head and I will do anything to get there. This bike is regularly at the forefront and, despite being older, it is still up there. This is also what is interesting in Supersport: there are motorcycles completely different in terms of cubic capacity or aesthetics, but we are all close in the standings.

The unknown is the new Yamaha, which is the question we all ask ourselves. It is a new bike and it is one of the only parameters we do not know. I see everyone as a threat and I will not try to procrastinate; I will do my best with the material I have. I will try to be the best driver on the whole season. The important thing is not to only be a threat in one race, but to be regular threat over the entire Championship.”

What are your goals for 2017?

“Simply being the best Jules Cluzel I've ever been. I will not say more.”

Other than Phillip Island, will you participate in other test sessions?

“We have just finished the test in Jerez and will be going to Portimao this weekend. We will then have four days of testing when arriving in Australia, which is already very good”

And physically, how do you feel?

“I'm on top and I'm really happy. I have played a lot of sports, ridden lots of bikes and I feel great. Physically, I am good as well as mentally. There is more to focus on than the first event at Phillip Island.”