Crescent Suzuki with newly signed Leon Camier will be testing for three days at Portimao starting next Monday.
This will be Camier’s first test on the GSX-R1000 in preparation for the team’s World Superbike debut in 2012.
Unfortunately John Hopkins will not be present as he’s still recovering from his recent finger surgery following the massive infection that sent him back into the operating room.
Hopkins will be replaced newly crowned British Supersport Champion Alastair Seeley.
The team will have a vast amount of items to go through during the test, including their current Suzuki engines as well as new Yoshimura partner’s engines and the electronics package.
Camier said, “I’m very excited to get out on the bike.
There is a lot to test on the Crescent Suzuki and I’ll be getting to know the team.
My focus will initially not be solely on lap times; at the minute it’s more about getting comfortable with the bike and having a good platform for the next test.
” while Seeley commented, “I’m really excited about testing with Crescent Suzuki.
It’s always interesting to see how things work with another team, plus it will be great to be back on a Superbike after a year in a different class.
” Crescent Suzuki Team Manager Jack Valentine commented: “I’m really looking forward to getting Leon on the bike.
We’ll be aiming to get a good chassis set-up for him, and if he clicks with the bike early on — then we’ll be looking at lap times.
But my primary aim is to get Leon comfortable on the bike so he can head into the winter testing break with a good feeling.
We will also be testing engines and electronic packages with the help of Alastair Seeley, who is standing in for the injured John Hopkins.
Alastair proved this season in British Superbikes what a good rider he is, so we believe he’ll give us some useful input towards the development of the bike.
And last but not least, the team itself has had some new additions to it, making this trip somewhat of a team bonding exercise.
So far the lads have gelled really well in the workshop, so I expect this will be the case in Portugal.
The main thing is to come away happy, focused, and with some positive feedback that will allow us to step up again before the next test in the new year.
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