Despite Jonathan Rea completing just a half day at the 2022 Jerez WorldSBK test, the six-time world cha💛mpion was just six tenths off the all-time lap record, set by himself in 2019.

Rea finished a staggering 1.4 seconds quicker than his team-mate Alex Lowes, while he also went faster than Lowes’ best time 🅺from day-one after just 🌱five laps on-track. 

While it remains to be seen how preparations for the upcoming season﷽ play out, particularly for world champions Yamaha and Ducati, there’s no doubt this was a strong start for Rea and Kawasaki who are looking to regain the WorldSBK title. 

With Toprak Razgatlioglu getting the better of Rea in 2021, and the R1 looking like a slightly more consistent/better package to be on, the🎶 same could also be said about Ducati’s Panigale V4 R, Kawasaki are more likely to need improvements to their ZX-10RR bike as opposed to Rea himself.

During Thusrday’s condensed running, Rea re-evaluated a chassis he tried ꩲin last month’s Jerez outing compared to a brand new one this week, while the recently named Irish Motorcyclist of the Year for a record-breaking ninth time also tested Kawasaki’s new electronics, Pirelli’s new-for-2022 SCQ tyre, before completing a race simulation that was very ‘positive’ according to crew chief Pere Riba. 

Speaking after the test, Riba added: "The test was short, because we only did half a day today and did not ride on day one. We did four hours in all. We focused mainly on the chassis side, because we are reconfir🧜ming things we did in December and comparing them with new items we built since the previous test. 

"Johnny [Rea] feels very positive, he is working very well, and the lap times were ver꧋y strong. We did a long run and the result was positive. Johnny did a great, great job. 

"We tested a new tyre for Pirelli and took some first information about the🃏 new electronics strategy. 

"We are pleased with the result and now all the guysꦇ are looking forward toꦚ going to Portimao for the next test."