Reigning WorldSBK king Jonathan Rea confirmed at Aragon he has made a fundamental change to his riding style, moving off the bike far more to try and keep a large rear tyre contact patch and reduce wear - which seemed to work in yesterday’s second race.

The new, elbow-down style he demonstrated at times this weekend is all new and some of it came from Fabien Foret, his rider coach as much as the team.

“Some of it was the way I was riding, from the team point of view, when the tyre was dropping down I was still trying to attack like it was a fresh tyre and then compromising my exit, because I was entering too fast,” explained Rea about his change to corner entry.

“That was the biggest thing. But from a riding style point of view it is something I have been working with Fabien at in the off-season and the tests and the first part of the year. It is also helping the bike to turn a little bit more.

“To be honest I find it really hard to hang off the right side of the bike because the throttle is there, the angle of my hand and so on, but from the left side I feel it is much easier to be more fluid with the bike. Like the last corner and turn ten.

“It was something I have been working with at Jerez and Portimao, a little bit. This is the first time that I have been using elbow sliders. I never once in the past touched my elbow. So it is something. When you are in a leaning of position the front feels a little bit light, because you have a big angle. But yes, we are trying to teach an old dog new tricks…”