Buildbase Suzuki ‘is a missile’, Kent fifth in Donington BSB test

Former Moto3 world champion Danny Kent was fifth fastest for Buildbase Suzuki during Tuesday’s final BSB pre-season test of 2021. 

The 27 year-old has had an impressive pre-season as he goes into his second year in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. 

The final test was at Donington Park - a more traditional circuit for the likes of Kent given his extensive Grand Prix experience. 

Speaking after the test, Kent alluded to being ‘confident coming in' due to the ‘GP-style’ layout, while expectations have been surpassed so far.  

"Donington is more of a GP-style track, so I was confident coming into the test. Topping the first session was nice, I didn’t necessarily expect it, so I have to be happy. I have to be happy with the whole preseason to be honest and I think I’ve exceeded expectations," added Kent.

"Much of yesterday was spent working on tyre life and evaluating the different compounds, including the SCX from Pirelli. We learned a lot and gathered a lot of useful data for the season. 

"We also made some changes during the sessions to further evaluate how the bike responds, so again we have data to take into a race weekend and we know how the bike will work and we’re not leaving anything down to guess work. 

"The new stuff from Suzuki worked well and the bike is a missile, I can get alongside stuff on the straights which makes overtaking easier."

The new season gets underway in just over two weeks time at Oulton Park, and although Kent would have preferred a start at Donington Park as was the case in 2020, recent testing at Oulton means it won’t be his first time at the Cheshire based venue on a Superbike.

Kent said: "I would have preferred to start somewhere like Donington, but at the Oulton test the lap time was good for my first time there on a superbike. 

"I’m sure, on the race weekend, we’ll make another step forward and I expect to do the same all year, make small steps forward and get closer to the front."