Thomas: Kawasaki nimble, Ducati cumbersome.

New Hawk Kawasaki rider Dean Thomas has only had one test on his green machine over winter, despite this he set the seventh fastest time over the course of the day at the first official British Superbike test at Donington Park Sunday.

Thomas rode a Ducati 998 in last year's British Superbike championship, and struggled to compete over race distance against the more modern machinery of his competitors.

"I can definitely see the advantage the boys had over me last year," said the Australian rider. "I was a bit mire physical with the Ducati on the way into the turns and I would open the corner up as much as I could because the bike was a bit more cumbersome and didn't go round the turns as well.

"This bike (Hawk Kawasaki) seems to be a much more nimble bike that turns in a lot shallower. I've got to learn that really, I can steer in early and come out in the same place. As the sessions went on I gradually settled into it," he concluded.

Thomas, his Hawk Kawasaki team and many other British Superbike teams will be at the second official test day at Brands Hatch tomorrow, Tuesday 15th March.

If you have a question for any of the British Superbike riders, email your suggestion to adam@crash.net. Those queries deemed suitable will be put to the desired rider over the next few days.