Edwards debuts the Suter-BMW CRT in Jerez test

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

An action filled first day of private testing at the Jerez circuit featured Colin Edwards debuting the Suter-BMW CRT.

Over a dozen riders gathered at the Andalusian track in a three-day test that featured MotoGP, CRT and Moto2 bikes on track together. Despite prevalent rain earlier in the week, the first day of testing was held under sun and clear skies, encouraging the riders to squeeze all they could from the eight hours of work (from 10am to 6:00pm) allotted to them each test day.

Colin Edwards wrapped up his first experience aboard CRT machinery today riding the BMW powered Suter CRT bike of his new team for 2012, NGM Forward Racing. The experienced Texan posted a best time of 1'43.9 during his 39 laps, in his first day of track action since getting injured in the tragic accident that also claimed the life of Marco Simoncelli at Sepang. The American was absent for both the Grand Prix of Valencia and end of season Official Test held directly after at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

Sharing the track was Yonny Hernandez, who took to the controls of the Kawasaki motor driven BQR FTR motorcycle to turn out a best lap of 1.45.7, and Ivan Silva, who was crowned the Stock Extreme Champion in the Spanish Championship CEV on Sunday, who rode the prototype Inmotec machine to register an unofficial time of 1'45.5 within 40 laps.

Also present was Ducati Team, though without their official riders. Instead the GP12 was put through its paces in the hands of World Superbike champion Carlos Checa and regular Ducati test rider Franco Battaini. The two riders lapped aboard the 2012 1000cc Desmosedici sporting an aluminum frame, although their times were not disclosed.

Several teams from the Moto2 class were present to give their new riders time aboard their new machinery, among them the Aspar Team with riders Nico Terol and former Moto2 World Champion, Toni Elías. The two focused primarilyu on bike geometry and set-up, with Elías putting in a remarkable 104 laps aboard the 600cc bike.

Scott Redding and Mika Kallio of Marc VDS Racing Team continued to familiarize themselves with the Kalex Moto2 that the team will run next year. Redding had a crash early in the day but was unhurt. Also taking a fall in the morning was Pol Espargaró of the Pons Racing team, the Catalan rider was also uninjured and was able to continue the day's testing along side team mate Esteve Rabat.