Rea Tests Honda MotoGP Bike At Sepang
Cycle News Staff | December 14, 2010
World Superbike racer Jonathan Rea had his first outing on a MotoGP bike today, the Northern Irelander taking part in a three-day HRC test session at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia.Rea, who finished fourth in this year’s World Superbike Championship on a Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR, joined HRC test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi (his Suzuka 8 Hour teammate) at the test, spending a full day on the RCV212. It was also Rea’s first day at the 3.4-mile Sepang track and HRC did not release any lap times.”Today I had great fun learning a MotoGP bike and the Sepang circuit is impressive,” the 23-year-old Rea said in a HRC release. “My body is still not 100 percent and this is a pity, but I had a very good day with the HRC test team. I spent almost all my career on production-derived bikes, I just rode a 125 GP a few years ago, and today I had a good feeling riding the Honda RCV212. The bike feels very powerful, the engine revs higher than my CBR1000R and it is easy to change direction. I’d like to thank HRC and Honda Europe for this opportunity. I am looking forward for the next two days of testing.”MotoGP regulars are banned from testing until the scheduled Sepang test in February.
