Former BSS regular Ben Currie enjoyed a successful first test as a World Supersport rider at Jerez this week.

The new Motozoo Racing by Puccetti signing utilised his previous Kawasaki experience to get up to speed quickly on his ZX-6R, running mid-1’44 pace but the close of day two despite navigating a wrist injury.

“I was very excited leading up to this test because it's my first ever World Supersport test and I think it went really well,” Currie confirmed from Jerez on Thursday afternoon. “Yesterday I didn't do too many laps because of the wrist injury but today we got an injection this morning, some painkillers in last night so I was able to finish the day strong and hit my target lap time.

“The thing that stood out to me was the tyres,” he continued.

“The tyres are so much better than anything I’ve ever ridden on. The grip is phenomenal and you can push so hard. It was just about understanding how hard you could push.

“With the SC1 already, which is the hardest compound that’s available to us, it’s so much more grip than what I’m used to, so when we put the SC0 on, I didn’t get the full benefit because I’m still trying to understand the limit. That was the most important thing. I think the electronics are pretty limited with the Kawasaki and the bike feels fantastic. I’ve ridden on a Puccetti engine before, so it was just like I remembered. It shouldn’t be too difficult to understand everything and then start to push hard."

Despite navigating a new championship, team and teammate for 2022, Currie appears to be taking it all in his stride and is confident of the year ahead.

“I didn't know Jeffrey [Buis] before I arrived here in Jerez so it was good to get to know him and his family. We work together pretty well. We ride together on the track sometimes to learn off each other and I think the team atmosphere is fantastic. I think we're going to have a good season together with the team, everybody as one. I think it can only be positive.”

With nine weeks before the season starts at Motorland Aragon in early April, the Australian has a secret weapon up his sleeve for winter training, in the form of fellow Kawasaki rider, Alex Lowes.

“I think moving forward through February and March with the testing, I would like to do some longer runs, some more race-style runs. Obviously my fitness held me back a little bit in the test to do long stints. I would like to build a little bit more of a rhythm on a race run.

“The plan for me is to hopefully come back to Spain in February with my friend Alex Lowes and do some training on the pit bikes and maybe some track riding and then get ready for the Catalunya test, 24th/25th [March] where hopefully, the fitness is good and we can do longer runs ready for the season.

“I surprised myself today with my lap time,” he admitted “I think mid-44 is respectable for the first time with the team and the World Supersport. I would like to be as competitive as possible because I'm a racer, but also I have to respect that this is the top level and everybody out there is really fast. So I think at the moment it's not having anything crazy, like thinking about podiums or winning. I think it's about doing step by step and maybe in the middle of the season, we can reevaluate the goal and maybe try and push for top five, but we have to wait and see. It's too early to say and at the moment I'm just enjoying riding my bike.”