The 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship pre-season preparations officially begun at Circuito de Navarra this morning with the opening official Test of the year, and reigning champions OMG Racing Yamaha set the pace at lunchtime with Kyle Ryde.
Ryde is one of the few riders to have previous circuit knowledge from his time in the CEV Championship earlier in his career, and he was soon back in the groove to edge out Leon Haslam by 0.069s at the lunchbreak.
Haslam is participating in the test on a BSB specification BMW M 1000 RR, but the 2018 champion is yet to confirm his plans for the 2023 season.
Ryan Vickers made it both OMG Racing Yamahas in the top three on the early times, but a crash mid-session meant he sat out the remainder of the morning as he prepares for his return to the track this afternoon.
Héctor Barberá was fourth on the times with the TAG Racing Honda team, leading Honda Racing UK’s Andrew Irwin and Lovell Kent Racing Honda’s Danny Kent.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Official Test, Navarra, Saturday AM:
- Kyle Ryde (OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:39.736
- Leon Haslam (BMW) +0.069s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.767s
- Héctor Barberá (TAG Racing Honda) +0.977s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.002s
- Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda Racing UK) +1.292s
- Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +1.824s
- Glenn Irwin (PBM Ducati) +1.841s
- Tommy Bridewell (PBM Ducati) +2.009s
- Dean Harrison (DAO Racing Kawasaki) +2.057s
For the full result please click here