A great day for Kawasaki and Jonathan Rea, who this morning presented the new ZX-10RR My2021 from the pit lane in Jerez de la Frontera. The Northern Ireland champion had longed for a new bike for some time to fill the technical void with Ducati (a void that Rea had closed and overcome with his performance). He was finally satisfied.
Rea was also stronger today than Bradl, Honda’s MotoGP test rider. A great satisfaction, even for a six-time world champion?
“They advised me to do a time attack at the end of the day, but I didn’t think about beating the Honda MotoGP. I was focused on myself. Let’s say being faster than a MotoGP is a nice plus for this test. However, the two motorcycles are not comparable. We have a qualified tire, but we also drive motorcycles that are available at the dealership for 20,000 euros.“”
Today you tested the new bike for the first time in its almost definitive version. What’s new
“We tried a lot of new things, including the fairing, the suspensions, the rear shock absorbers and the braking components. In addition, work on the engine started yesterday and the new Pirelli rear tires also had to continue. It was a busy day and I had a lot of positive feelings about the things we tested. The biggest challenge of these two days of testing, however, was being quick on the tire for some time. This was the first test for the new season. We still have a lot of things to test, but the first impressions are very positive. “
How important do you think it is for Kawasaki not to completely revolutionize the SBK project but to focus on updating the ZX-10RR?
“I can’t tell if this is a new bike or a major update of the old one. However, we’ve found that there are some nice differences, and it will take time to understand everything: the connection between the accelerator and the engine, the new suspensions … “
Back to MotoGP. The championship ends this week in Portimao, the route normally used by the SBK. How will the drivers feel in Portugal?
“Portimao is a circuit that drivers love. It really makes a difference. MotoGP had a good year as many constructors won. The track is quite complicated and it is sure to be a fun race as most drivers will start from scratch. “
If you were betting on someone, who would you be betting on?
“I would bet on me even if MotoGP is really unpredictable. Suzuki is doing everything very well and the fact that they won the world championship with Joan is a really good thing. When I look at the Suzuki project from the outside, it looks a lot like my team’s. You are a team full of humanity. You have good people and you smile while you work. There are also some garages in this paddock that looks like they are trying to take security outside. “