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.