Flying start at Portimao

THE Bogdanka PTR Honda team got off to a flying start to the 2011 season with James Ellison second fastest on the third and final day of the official World Supersport test at Portimao and Pawel Szkopek joining him at the sharp end.

Following his second place in the wet yesterday, Ellison was also second quickest on the final day as he developed his Honda to his riding style. He completed a massive amount of work in the changeable conditions. Pawel Szkopek also made vast improvements over the three days, upping the pace with every outing and spending most of the time comfortably inside the top six in a 21-strong class.
Eventually James and Pawel finished the three day test in seventh and 13th overall, having done 99 and 103 laps respectively, but variable weather did no justice to the combined standings and the Bogdanka PTR Honda Team leaves Portimao delighted with the progress and pace of its riders.

On Monday the team will start a two day test at MotorLand Aragon, where Ellison and Szkopek will be joined by Bogdanka PTR Honda’s Superstock 1000 rider, Marcin Walkowiak. One more test will take place in Australia before the first World Supersport race on the 27th of February.

James Ellison: “It was a very good test. The bike is great and the team works really well together. I was very fast in the wet this morning, faster that anyone else by two seconds at one point and I’m very happy with the wet practice we’ve had. With half of the track dry in the afternoon we’ve been able to try new fork settings we’ve came up with after day one. That made a massive improvement even if the lap times didn’t show it because the other half was wet; but I can’t wait to try the bike again at Aragon.”

Pawel Szkopek: “I’m really happy with the three days here. Actually the mixed conditions were very helpful to me because I’ve learned so much about the traction control and I’m feeling really well on the bike. The weather was a bit tricky on the last day and I’m looking forward to trying the bike again in the dry - but all in all it was a very productive test. I’m very happy to have been in the top six on a constant basis because I wasn’t going for lap times at all. I know I can go faster but was just learning the bike so this visit to Portimao was a massive confidence boost for me.”

Simon Buckmaster: “Our first test was very productive despite the tricky conditions. Both riders were quick in the wet and near the end James had a very good setting in the dry which improved turn-in. I’m very happy with Pawel too. He gelled really well with the team and shows great potential so I’m looking forward to getting him in the best shape possible for the start of the championship on Febuary the 27th.”

Michael Piasecki: “Despite the mixed conditions it was a very good test for the whole team. Both riders felt right at home on their Hondas and did lots of work both in the dry and in the wet. James reconfirmed what we already knew: he’s a true title contender. I’m delighted and aahappy about Pawel’s pace too. He was focusing on understanding the bike and how it reacts to different changes, particularly to the traction control settings, but he was still comfortably inside the top six which gives us a very solid base after only the first test.”

Combined test times

1 11 Lowes S. (GBR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1'45.845
2 44 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'45.931
3 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'46.316
4 99 Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'46.415
5 7 Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'46.594
6 4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.259
7 77 Ellison J. (GBR) BOGDANKA PTR HONDA CBR600RR 1'47.281
8 9 Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'47.365
9 21 Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.852
10 117 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1'47.941
13 28 Szkopek P. (POL) BOGDANKA PTR HONDA CBR600RR 1'49.357