Redding: Change from V4 to inline-four engine 'a big deal for me'

Following two seasons on a Ducati Panigale V4-R in WorldSBK, Scott Redding’s first moments aboard a four-cylinder inline-four engine since his Moto2 days left the former BSB champion 'feeling pretty good'. 

Redding, who has ridden a V4 over the last three consecutive seasons - two in WorldSBK and one in BSB - will get his official 2022 pre-season testing underway with BMW next month. 

The former MotoGP rider has so far tested twice for the German manufacturer, both of which came last December in Estoril and Jerez. 

The first of those tests saw Redding ride the 2021 M 1000 RR, however, the British rider was given a modified 2022 package for his outing in Spain.

"My first impression of the BMW was that the bike is completely different," Redding told Speedweek.com. "The engine is very different, which is a big deal for me. I haven't rode a four-cylinder in-line since my Moto2 days. 

"But I was feeling pretty good and trying to figure out how to ride this bike. There were just a few little things I wanted changed to make me feel more comfortable on the bike."

"I've already had two days on the old bike. I could feel the advantages of the new bike right away, it has no disadvantages."

While the 2022 bike had clear advantages in Redding’s view, the 29 year-old is yet to test the complete package, something that will come his way during a mid-march WorldSBK test at Misano.

Redding continued: "So it made no sense to go back to the old machine. The bike was at about 80 percent. We had a lot to test and had to share the new stuff. 

"That's why we never had the complete package available, we'll get that for the next test. Then we can work with that."

Redding will complete his pre-season preparations with a two day test at Barcelona (March 25-26) before another two days of action during April’s Official Dorna organised test at Aragon.