Shane Byrne shakes down PBM Ducati Panigale R

The Be Wiser Ducati British Superbike Championship Team of Shane Byrne and Glenn Irwin have completed an initial test programme with two days at both Portimao in Portugal followed by a visit to the new Circuit Andalucía in Spain.

Four-time MCE BSB title winner ‘Shakey’ and rookie team-mate Irwin reported good feedback aboard the fully factory-supported Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R as part of the development work they are undertaking prior to the season starting at Silverstone on April 8/10th.

With the data acquired, Technical Director Phil Borley as well as Crew Chiefs Giovanni Crupi (Byrne) and Johnny Mowatt (Irwin), will work with the Ducati Corse factory prior to the next tests which are scheduled over the next couple of months.

Shane Byrne

“It was fantastic to get back out on track and we had a really productive four days. All credit to the team who were working right up to the test sorting the MoTeC electronics and the bike, even in its very standard form, was fantastic. There is so much potential there, it excites me as I know we can make it much, much better. We’ve not looked at the chassis yet, we were just concentrating on fuelling and mapping and to see how competitive we were against bikes with full electronics fills us with even more confidence. It is great to be working with Giovanni again as we go back to when I raced in World Superbikes and it was brilliant to have my old team there on the other side of the garage too. This is a new challenge for us all, it’s exciting and it’s just what me and the team needed.”

Glenn Irwin

“Getting to ride a factory-backed Ducati is the stuff of dreams and it certainly didn’t disappoint me! It was everything I thought it would be and a little bit more so me and the team spent the early stages of the test dialling me into the bike. Everything about the Be Wiser Ducati is great, the power delivery, the chassis and the brakes, and we have only just started testing. The plan was for me to work on my own and then do a few laps with Shakey which I found helped with adapting my riding style. He makes it look so easy and I was using him as a sponge! In the end, I think I did around 200 laps so we certainly got some good mileage in and with some more parts and development work before the next test, I can’t wait. I have a brilliant team around me with loads of experience too, so all in all, it’s been a very positive test.”

Paul Bird, Team Owner

“The move back to our spiritual home of Ducati has commenced, and I’ve heard nothing but good feedback coming back from everyone within the team following the recent test. The new Panigale R is a fantastic piece of engineering which we intend making even better with the help of Ducati Corse and I have every confidence that we have made the correct choice of motorcycle for 2016. Shakey and Glenn felt immediately at home on the bike and there’s a lot more to come. We have made a few calculated changes within the team also to ensure that Be Wiser Ducati is a force to be reckoned with this season. We have the important team launch coming up next month, followed by some more testing in February and March in order to be in the best possible shape for the season starting at Silverstone.”