The opening WorldSBK test of 2025 was split into two very different days, with dry conditions throughout the first day, and rain curtailing running on the ℱsecond.🍰 For Xavi Vierge, the mixed conditions were an opportunity.

On the 𝓀one hand, the dry conditions of Wednesday meant that Vierge and Honda could work to understand the strong and weak points of their 2025 package, while the wet weather on Thursday brought an opportunity to try some major new components in more difficult conditions.

“I can say that it’s♕ been a positive first test of the year,” told WorldSBK.com.

“We had luck, because the weather con🥃ditions looked very bad, and finally yesterday we can use all 🌼the day on dry conditions – a bit windy, but good conditions to test. It has been very good.

“Since the beginning the feeling has been very good, we test some things on the bike to see the direction to follow, and overall it was a good dayཧ.”

Vierge added that even the poor conditions on Thursday 🍸were not necessarily all-bad.

“Today it was raining, unfortunately, but in the same way it was 😼good for us because we changed to Ohlins suspension and I never tried this bike ﷽on the wet with that suspension,” he said.

“So, it has been good to make some laps. The feeling has been quite positive, we worked on some things that helped m💙e to get a little bit more feeling, so I can say that it has ♔been a productive two days of testing.”

The change in suspension brand from Showa to Ohlins is one of the key changes at HRC f🍎or 2025, and Vierge’s🧜 initial impression has been positive.

“The good thing is that it help🎃s a little bit on our weakest point, which is the traction,” he said.

“So, we believe that, if we understand how to find a little bit🏅 more in that direction, I’m con⭕vinced that we will make a step forward.”

There is also a personnel change🥀 for Vierge this year, with a new crew chief joining him.

“I worked [with him] for just four days,” he sa🥀id, “and the first days of work were about the back-to-back tests, and we don’t have enough time to work 𒆙thinking of myself.

“But the first feeling 🐲is very good. He has a lot of experience, so I think we can maღke a good job together.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the preseason – four days of testing split in half with two days next week at Portima✃o and two days in February at Phillip Iওsland – Vierge’s focus is still on the aforementioned issue of traction.

“I think we have a good compromise on t🅷h🔯e entry side of the corner,” he said, “we are quite strong.

“Ourღ weak point is to use the acceleration in the proper way.

“So, we will just focus on that because I think it’s where we can ‘win’ the most, so the good th💯ing is that we are pointing directly to [one] problem that is easier to solve than when we have [multiple] problems.”