THERE WAS A lot of 2017 in the Honda Fireblades that Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl rode for the first time at Jerez, but there were still some significant touches of 2016 as the Honda World Superbike/Ten Kate squad only got their new bikes a couple of weeks before the start of the new test season.
The first day was very much a shakedown, but things improved as time went on.
“Of course yesterday we had a lot of little shakedown stuff we had to do,” said Hayden, “but today I can say the bike ran all day. We didn’t break any track records but we ran all day and made a couple of little steps. The reality is we are really behind. So there is not a lot we can do, not complain about it or cry about it, but we just have to get to work and try to make up what we can.”
Hayden was also still recovering from a knee operation. “My knee is not perfect, not 100 per cent. Yesterday I didn’t ride too much but today I probably rode more than I was supposed to. But hopefully by Phillip Island I can be 100 per cent.”
For the next test outing, at Portimao in Portugal, Hayden will have some new things to try, but his bike will probably have the same 2016 seat unit and rear swingarm and links as at the Spanish test.
“At Portimao it will be pretty similar,” he confirmed. “There were some extra maps that came here, and we may have one extra engine for Portimao. At the moment we do not expect any big parts, but probably some mapping and things.”
Hayden, Jerez WSBK tests, January 2017