Christian Iddon had his first experience of Panigale V4R power at the official Bennetts British Superbike test and described it as a proper weapon after five days' in the Spanish sun.

Iddon ended the final Spanish test in seventh place on the timesheets, utilising the opening track time at Monteblanco to adapt to the new bike, before continuing their progress at Jerez. The final test for the team ahead of the opening round is at Silverstone on April 2.

“Monteblanco was the first stop and it was the first time to ride what is basically a brand new bike. The bike is as far as I can tell the same as last year, but it’s newly built and I think we are expecting some new parts to come before the next test at Silverstone," said Iddon

“Monteblanco served a purpose and I got plenty of laps in and I learnt my way around the new team. It was the first time I worked with my side of the garage, although I have been with them once before Christmas but it was the first time with my full crew. It was good to get a rapport with them and it goes without saying, but they are a really professional team.

Then from my side it was about learning the bike really and kept going around and doing laps as the Ducati V4 as it is so different to anything I have ever ridden before and I was just getting my eye in really and then it was on to Jerez and that was much more of a normal testing scenario.

“I felt really good on the first day at Jerez and the bike felt much more like my own, and that was the first time I really felt like I had gelled with the Ducati. That was a really positive day; I wasn’t super fast but I was more than content with our pace on old tyres, which is really good.

“We didn’t go for a time attack, although I didn’t quite feel ready for one anyway, so actually the timesheets it doesn’t look as good as what it should, but I think we are better off than what it shows on paper. The last day was a bit hit and miss with the weather and I wasn’t doing the last session anyway, but I am already looking forward to getting back out on the bike at Silverstone for the test; it is a proper weapon and I am really looking forward to unlocking the full potential of what it is capable of.”