Bennetts Suzuki MCE British Superbike contenders Tommy Bridewell and Ryuichi Kiyonari have completed their first shakedown laps at a wet Brands Hatch today.

Former champ Kiyonari only flew back into Britain yesterday but was straight down to business at the Kent track. Bridewell admitted to having fun on the GSX-R1000 even though conditions were far from ideal.

“I am very happy to be back, I have only been in the UK a day but I was excited because I haven’t been on a bike since Silverstone. It was wet but I enjoyed it. I know the potential of the Suzuki from the Suzuka Eight Hour, it is a different, but the machine is good. The team have a lot of experience; today our target was to check everything for Spain and that is what we did. Spain will be a proper test and I have confidence with the team; we have a plan for Cartagena and Guadix and I just need to adapt to the bike ready for the season,” said Kiyo.

Bridewell added: “It was a bit cold and damp today but it was definitely nice to get a few laps on the Bennetts Suzuki for the first time, and although the conditions weren’t the best as it was quite damp, it certainly didn’t make it any less fun! It was important for us to have some laps today just to check everything over so we can then get to Spain and get some testing done and so we are ready to get cracking at the first round.”