20 March 2005
Pre-season testing, Circuit de la Comunitat, Valencia, Spain
With the 2005 Season just one week away, Team Diablo 666 Kawasaki along with its partners, Bolliger Kawasaki, organised this test to blow the cobwebs off the ZX 10’s both teams will once again be using in this years World Endurance Racing Championship, prior to the first round of the 2005 season at Assen.

The Circuit de la Comunitat, Valenciana, Ricardo Tormo is the scene of MotoGP and WSB rounds later in 2005. Rossi, Edwards, Toseland, Corser and Co will all be racing there in earnest in 2005. The circuit is 4,005m in length and it would be interesting to see the lap times put in by both Diablo 666 and Bolliger squads compared to the leading WSB and Superstock runners at the same circuit last year. The Superbike lap record is currently still held by Neil Hodgson with a time of 1:35.007 from 2003, before the one tyre rule was brought in but last years fastest race lap was by Nori Haga with a time of 1:36:763.The best qualifying time by a Kawasaki Superbike was put in by Mauro Sanchini with 1:38.129.

As regards the Superstock class, probably more comparable to the engine specs of Diablo 666 ZX-10’s, Lorenzo Alfonsi holds the lap record with a time of 1:39.663. Last years fastest qualifying by a ZX-10 was Luca Scassa with a time of 1:40:106, not that far behind Sancini’s Superbike time.

Everything would depend, however on weather, temperature and track conditions but at least these times give the Team something to aim for and to judge their times by.

As the team arrived at Stansted Airport for departure, an incredible scene, people waiting for flights were sunbathing! The change in the weather since the trip to Misano had been miraculous! The forecast for the Valencia area was even better with temperatures expected to be in the 70’s with clear blue skies and definitely no snow!

At the circuit Friday, the weather was glorious. It was brilliant for testing, not a cloud in the sky, 75 degrees Fahrenheit, purfick! As the day went on James and Steve progressively brought their times down. Kevin on the other hand, still very much suffering from the worst case of the trots known to man, picked up from working in Toulouse earlier in the week, was still able to do extremely quick times for the likes of mere mortals such as you or I, a case of necessity however, as Kevin was unable to not visit Valencia’s wonderful toilet facilities after each outing. “I seemed to be sliding around a lot” said Kevin.

Geoff Randall, Chief Technician, Chief Mechanic and all things mechanical Guru, was well pleased. After changing rear shock settings, front fork springs and oil at lunchtime aided superbly by able seaman Mark Currier, the bike just got better and better. “We really are nearly there, our base setting I think isn’t a million miles away now”, commented Geoff.

Steve Mizera also rode the latest spec Bolliger bike, being able to compare this to Diablo’s machine on which he put in the fastest time of the day of 1:43:68. “The Diablo bike is better in some places, the Bolliger bike better in others” said our Dresden based superstar.

Kevin was still on the loo!

After a rider, debriefing to discuss what should be tried for the following day, both squads linked up at Team Bolliger’s Hotel for a meal. Miles Hutchins, Geoff Randall, Hanspeter Bolliger, talking about what was required to improve the Diablo bike still further and other technical stuff, aided by Steve Mizera acting as U.N. interpreter, while the rest of the lads just got stuck into good food, good wine, beer (and bacardi for certain member of the Team) and other things less technical and mentally demanding.

Kevin was still on the loo!

Saturday and the weather was still fantastic but slightly cooler. All three lads were out on circuit all day with minor adjustments being made constantly to suspension settings front and back, gradually fine tuning the ZX-10. James, and Steve were again really on it and with clear laps amongst the track day boys were able to consistently keep their lap times in the 1:44’s and 1:45’s.

“The bike was very, very good and fast” enthused Steve Mizera. “I just can’t wait for the season to start at Assen and am looking forward to doing a full season with Diablo666. They are a wunderbar team”

“The improvements made to the swinging arm have really made a big difference to the ZX’s handling and driveability,” commented James Hutchins.

“The Imodium tablets have finally kicked in, thank God” said a very delicate looking Kevin Falcke. “I’ll be in better shape for Assen though and will get back up to James’s and Steve’s pace.

Hanspeter Bolliger had also been issued with a number of different compound Pirelli tyres for the test, which also added extra spice to the mix, and tyre life was carefully being monitored. New compound race pads were also being tried out.

Best time overall of the test was set by Steve Mizera with an amazingly quick time of 1:42:3, on Saturday when the temperature finally got back into the 70’s.

Given the long winter layoff and with further developments planned to the bike, things are looking excellent for the 2005 season.

The Team were in an upbeat mood leaving the circuit as many WSB Teams began arriving.

Final quote from Team Principal Miles Hutchins, “After the disappointment of the aborted test at Misano, this test here at Valencia, has gone much better than we could have hoped for. The Team are working so well together. We have learned a lot, the riders have gained invaluable track time and we have a good base setting going into Assen. The weather forecast next weekend could be our biggest problem though.”

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