The Halsall Suzuki team is looking forward to the start of the 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship after completing its final pre-season test at Donington Park.

With the opening round of the season taking place at the same venue over the coming Easter weekend, yesterday's test gave the new team the chance to take to the Leicestershire track for the first time with riders Christian Iddon and Josh Waters.

The changeable weather did its best to hamper the progress. However, with both riders completing nearly 100 laps between them, they were able to further evaluate the engine performance of the GSX-R1000 superbikes and also allowed them to identify the areas to focus on when the team returns for the first round in less than two weeks' time.

Team Manager Jack Valentine said,

"We didn't quite get what we wanted from the test today, and we weren't helped by the weather; which made things very difficult. But we did manage to get some laps in which gave both Josh and Christian the chance to work out where we're strong and where we need to focus our efforts. 

"Both riders were happy with the engine performance of the bikes, and the work with Yoshimura has helped us there, so we're really pleased with that. We've struggled a bit with corner entry and had some issues with grip, but we'll go away and work and come back with a plan for the opening round. We're looking forward to getting the season underway."

Christian Iddon, who completed 48 laps, commented,

"We only really got the one session in today where we could push. It was good to get my first laps in on the GSX-R in the wet this morning, but the conditions for the second session were a bit half and half, which only gave us the final session where we could push on. We just need to improve our feeling with the bike in the faster, flowing sections. We're good in the stop-start section at the end of the lap, but missing something in the flowing sections. But we have lots of information to take from today from myself and Josh, so we have a lot planned for next week." 

Josh Waters, who put in 49 laps of the Donington Park circuit, added,

"Today probably didn't quite go as we'd have liked but it was good to get out there and we know where we need to focus. We got some laps in in the wet which was good and good to get my eye in. We've put a plan together to improve the areas where we're struggling and we'll be ready for the first race." 

The first round of the 2015 British Superbike Championship takes place from April 4-6th at Donington Park, with racing taking place on Bank Holiday Monday.