With the first two of our 2008 bikes stripped down as part of the
build process and two test sessions planned for March everything
seemed to be going smoothly for the race team. A sudden change of
plan was required when the first test was cancelled at short notice.

Our friends at Racedays.net kindly offered us space on their Almeria
test but given the short notice there was little we could do to
prepare the 2008 bikes in time so we opted to use the spare 2007
machine that we had bought when we needed another engine back in
August last year. We fitted our spare rear sets, bodywork, exhausts
and steering damper, loaded it in to the van and set off for the 1550
mile drive to the South of Spain.

We were concerned initially as to whether the test would be
worthwhile as our Ohlins fork internals, braided brake lines, clip
ons, etc. had yet to arrive and we still hadn’t managed to source the
Yoshimura ECU and other parts we needed to build a competitive
SuperStock bike. Regardless even some time on a standard bike would
be useful as Matt hadn’t ridden since the last round in early October
2007 and was bound to take some time to get back up to speed.

It was the first visit to Almeria for both Matt and the team and
everyone was soon running through regular process for learning a
circuit, defining reference points and other drills we go through.
There were plenty of well known faces in the paddock to help with the
Racedays MasterClass, a more intensive level of tuition from
respected racers, including Leon and Ron Haslam (Factory Honda rider
in British SuperBikes and ex-500GP respectively), Jeremy McWilliams
(ex-British SuperBike, ex-500GP and ex-250GP) and Iain Macpherson (ex-
British SuperBike and ex-World SuperSport). The class was fully
booked so we had to work on Matt’s riding approach and techniques
together as a team.

Rather than being out of practice Matt took to the new circuit
quickly and after some advice on a couple of corners was soon picking
up speed. The format of the Racedays.net event is plenty of Open
Pitlane time coupled with a qualifying session and a variety of races
to keep things interesting. Initially I wasn’t keen on Matt racing
but it soon became clear the only way he was going to be able to
learn from the instructors was to race against them I relented albeit
it under strict instructions to stay our of trouble. I have to admit
to being swayed by the fact that he qualified second overall just
behind Leon Haslam and 1.4 seconds faster than Jeremy McWilliams and
Ron Haslam.

We sat out most of the final Open Pitlane session to conserve our
last set of tyres although Matt did a couple of laps following some
advice from Ron on one particularly complex section of track where he
was struggling to turn the bike fast enough. After declaring himself
happy with the new approach to the corner and spending some more time
talking through his lines through each of the corners it was time for
the race itself.

Matt got away well and led in to the first corner opening up a small
lead while Leon Haslam dealt with the traffic through the first few
corners. Aside from a couple of mistakes a few laps in it took Leon
until lap nine to catch up with Matt and he only managed to pass when
Matt backed off approaching a backmarker on the way in to turn one.
With Matt on his tail and both riders struggling for grip Leon led
for the final laps with the pair separated by just 0.5 seconds after
the 80 kilometre race with Ron Haslam some 30 seconds back.

It was only after event that we found Matt had lost his knee slider
early on in the race when he hit his knee on a kerb. He bravely
continued to race on and still got his knee down along the way. By
the end it had worn through all the layers of leather and also the
outer skin of the protective armour. He did say it felt a bit windy
down the back straight so he knew that he had probably worn all the
way through but kept on going regardless! I hope we can persuade
Teknic to supply another set of leathers before the start of the season.

Leon was very complimentary about Matt’s riding and declared that had
he not been able to pass when he did it was unlikely that he would
have had enough grip left to attempt the same move later in the race.
Obviously the team were delighted and Matt was very happy at having
ridden a great race and having the ability to watch and learn from
Leon at such close quarters. It was an excellent start to the season
and everyone is looking forward to testing the fully prepared 2008
SuperStock bike at Valencia next month.

We were even more delighted when we found out that Matt had managed
to get within 2.5 seconds of the unofficial SuperStock lap record set
by the 2007 SuperStock Champion, Niccolo Canepa, on his fully
prepared factory Xerox Ducati 1098 in testing before the season
started last year. Matt was also faster on a standard bike than the
then reigning British SuperStock champion Brendan Roberts, also on a
factory Xerox Ducati 1098, at the same test last year although it has
to be said that Brendan didn’t manage to complete the second day of
his test due to injury.

With another test scheduled with Racedays.net at Valencia in March
prior to the first race at the same circuit the question everyone is
asking is how much of an improvement the addition of Ohlins
suspension, Pirelli SuperCorsa Pro race tyres, Yoshimura ECU, quick
shifter and quick action throttle will make to those times.