Tyco Suzuki’s MCE British Superbike rider Josh Waters had a successful two-day test with his Suzuki Yoshimura team in preparation for the Suzuka Eight Hours, but the Aussie was hoping for more dry track time, as he was only able to test in the wet on the final day of testing.
Waters is in a three-man team with Suzuki’s MotoGP test rider Randy De Puniet and Takuya Tsuda. The French rider hasn’t competed in the endurance event before, so he had more time out on the bike in the morning sessions, leaving Waters to contend with the wet conditions. But if the rain does fall on the track the Tyco man knows he will be prepared and has the race-pace to compete in the event, at the end of the month.
Waters did not go as fast as he did from the 2012 sessions with the team, but has to contend with changes to his bike – in particular with the seating positions, as he is taller than both of his team-mates. But he is looking forward to returning to the Japanese track in a few weeks’ time.
“It was good to ride the bike again as a lot as changed since I was last on it in 2012. Over the course of the two day test I was testing the bike with two other riders, Tsuda and Randy De Puniet,” said Waters, speaking to bikesportnews.com from Japan.
“It was Randy’s first go on the Superbike so he was on it for the morning session on the final day, then I went on it in the afternoon, but it was wet at that point. On the first day it was dry so I managed to get a few dry laps, I’m not sure how many but it was good. Obviously I didn’t go as fast as I did in 2012 or last year.
“But much has changed on the bike, like the tank has altered and I have two team-mates who are smaller than me too. So the seating is a bit different and I have to learn to adjust the way I sit on the bike, as I am taller than the other two.
“I was happy with my pace in the wet on the second day and the team were happy too – which is good. A perfect scenario would have been to test again in the dry on the second day – but at least if it rains during the Suzuka-eight-hour then I know I will be prepared.”
