Rea tests new electronics at Jerez, completes impressive race simulation

Jonathan Rea appears to be in fine form ahead of the 2022 WorldSBK season after topping a five-rider Jerez test by over one second. 

Despite completing just a half day worth of running - elected to save 1.5 out of his ten allocated testing days for later in the year - the Kawasaki rider was just six tenths away from his pole lap of 2019 which is the current circuit record for Superbike machinery (1:38.247s). 

Rea set a 1:38.851s which was 1.2 seconds quicker than team-mate Alex Lowes, who himself topped the opening day from WorldSBK rookies Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona. 

Regarding his on-track plan, Rea completed an impressive race simulation which he initially wasn’t in favour of doing, while also testing chassis and new electronics parts that have been brought to the ZX10-RR.

While the Jerez test proved important and is one of the more favoured testing venues, the Spanish circuit won’t be on the 2022 WorldSBK calendar, meaning the parts Rea tested will need to be ‘re-tested at another track’. 

Speaking after the first test of 2022, Rea said: "Times and positions don’t really matter at this time of the year but it was really nice to get back on the bike. I had felt OK on the bike, and very fast in the December test. 

"But physically I was not so good after a lot of holiday time at home in the off-season. But after starting my winter training programme with my coach before Christmas I felt much better with the bike. 

"Already we did a race simulation because we have some new items on the bike that we needed to test with a long run. I was reluctant to do that but when we concluded I felt quite positive. 

"We tested some chassis items here and Pirelli brought a new variation of tyre to try. We had some new electronic items as well. 

"Now we need to re-test again at another track. We will be back in Portimao at the beginning of February. I am excited to go there and see how the 2022 version of our Ninja ZX-10RR works there."

The Jerez test was a privately organised one by Kawasaki and Team HRC, so while lap times were impressive from Rea, it’s fairly inconsequential given Yamaha and Ducati in particular were not on-track. That will come during next month’s Portimao test with Kawasaki joining them.