Welsh wizard Chaz Davies feels more sure that he can take the fight to the Kawasakis from day one of the 2016 World Superbike Championship which kicks off on Friday at Phillip Island.
The Aruba Ducati man tested well over winter and Davies believes he is in a better position to challenge for wins at the start of the season rather than having to watch as Jonathan Rea cleared off and the Panigale only developing enough in the second half of 2015 to reel him in.
“I think Jonathan won his championship even earlier than it looked like he would; he was so dominant for a lot of races. There were a few stand-out places where he was very dominant. I think this year I feel we, and me personally, are starting with a package I am a little bit more sure of. Last year we had some big parts brought to Phillip Island which took us the majority of the first half of the season to get our head round. To figure the way to get the setup to suit the geometry of the bike,” he told Bikesport News.
“Finally we had a bit of stability and that was our first real proper stability of the season but by then Jonathan was long gone, out of reach, and had racked up some wins.”
Davies second half of 2015 is what is getting him enthused about 2016. “The second half of the season we took it to him. Even in the early part go the season, I raced him at Phillip Island, I raced him in Aragon, although he won one and I won one. I was the only guy to race him in Assen. That late race charge that Jonathan was able to do last year - I think we are in a better position for that. We have worked pretty hard on keeping our powder dry for the last few laps, and then trying to have a little bit less in reserve. I think there a few little things there - and hopefully it is enough.”
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