Jed Metcher Tests BSB Kawasaki

Jed Metcher satisfied with BSB test, however there is still work to be done…
Words By Russell Colvin – Images by Jon Jessopp

Fresh from his World Superbike wildcard ride with the Demolition Plus Race Center team at Phillip Island a few weeks ago, Jed Metcher was back in the pilot’s seat testing with the PR Racing Kawasaki team ahead of this year’s MCE BSB Championship.

After a three day test at the Circuito de Cartagena, Metcher walked away from the test satisfied they are making progress, however the twenty-four-year-old year old knows there is still work to be done in order to have a competitive package when the season gets underway at Donington Park on April 4-6 (Bank Holiday).

“We moved forward on the last day without using the softer the tyre, however we still have some issues to resolve when trying to ride on the limit,” Metcher told MCNews.com.au.

The team spent the three day test evaluating different setup options to suit Metcher’s riding style, particularly searching for front end feeling on corner entry.

The Cartagena circuit, which is just under 3.5km long, is considered to be a low grip circuit which did make it a bit more of a challenge to find a comfortable setup for Metcher and the team, in what was their first outing this year.

The Liverpool based team did not reveal the lap times and with no official timing for the test, which saw many other BSB teams taking part, we can perhaps safely assume that the Victorian rider was a little bit off the pace that they were hoping for.

“We still need to find a comfortable base setting before we throw soft tyres at the bike and push the limit for lap times. PR Racing Kawasaki and I know that we have some work to do, and we are rolling up our sleeves and working on the task at hand.”

On their first day of testing, Metcher did taste the tar after losing the front end after trying some different fork settings. He walked away uninjured, however there was more than a can of polish needed to sort the bike out.

With only four weeks before the curtain raiser round, Metcher and his team have got their work cut out for them but are hoping to be ready by the time the green lights go out for the first round.