PICS: New Honda World Superbike makes Jerez public debut

After completing private tests both in Japan and Spain, the new-look Honda World Superbike team has made its public test debut at Jerez with Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam.

Team HRC is preparing the new CBR1000RR-R as it ramps up its World Superbike efforts for 2020 following a tough run of campaigns with the previous Fireblade model.

Having signed Bautista from Aruba.it Racing Ducati and axed Kawasaki rider Leon Haslam to race its new Superbike, Honda has produced the most eye-catching changes ahead of the 2020 season.

Midway through a rain-interrupted opening day of the two-day Jerez test, Bautista has completed four laps, with a best lap time of 2m 03.707s before suffering a crash at Turn 6 which duly restrained his track action.

New team-mate Haslam has notched up nine laps with a best effort of 1m 54.803s set during a second run.

In wet and slippery conditions, two red flags have stalled the first day of the Jerez test with Pata Yamaha’s Michael van der Mark leading the times with a 1m 53.675s.

At last November’s post-season Jerez test, Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea topped the times with a 1m 38.397s in dry and warmer conditions.

After the Jerez test the majority of the World Superbike grid heads to Portimao for a second two-day test before packing up to go to Australia for the final pre-season test and opening round at Phillip Island.

The new CBR 1000 RR-R did the first laps at Jerez test @realleonhaslam initially went top and is firmly placed inside the top 3 so far! #WorldSBK pic.twitter.com/tzLUpDl3qS

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) January 22, 2020