BeWiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan has left the Pro-Test in Cartagena a more happy and confident rider, after gelling with his bike and new team over the past four days in Spain. The Pirelli National Superstock 1000 champion has been trying not to get caught up with doing fast lap times this weekend, and feels that the bike has the potential to be quick and competitive in time for the first MCE British Superbike round at Donington.

Buchan did his fastest time, of a 1’33.4 yesterday on a qualifying tyre, but he promised his team that he wouldn’t push too hard or do anything ‘stupid’. Team manger Tommy Hill, and Co have kept it quite simple for Buchan to start with, and have stripped the ZX-10R right back, so the tall rider can really get a taste for the Kawasaki and where they can improve or change certain aspects of the bike.

“It is nice to come away knowing I can do some fast laps around the Cartagena circuit, but I said to my crew we could have set the bike up to go fast – but that is not why we are here and it is about trying out new things with the bike. I am understanding the Kawasaki a bit more which is really important,” said Buchan, speaking to bikesportnews.com from the paddock.

”I’m not going to say that I wasn’t pushing - as sometimes I was, as I wanted try out new things. We did a bit of a race run, and I was doing some competitive times. I think as a team we are more than happy with what we have come away with from the test. We started from the ground up, and with a stock chassis. Now it has some bits on it, and it is nice for me and my crew chief to learn how I interpret feedback and we all work well together.

“I went two tenths slower on an SC1 tyre but my fastest lap was on a zero, but my crew chief made me promise not to lose my head and go for a lap time, as we have had a great test so far. My confidence has grown after these sessions, and I feel that I have matured as a rider too.”