Jonathan Rea Aims for Improvement After First Day of Jerez WorldSBK Testing

The first day of the Jerez WorldSBK testing session brought positive results for Yamaha’s Jonathan Rea, though the six-time WorldSBK champion admitted there is “still room for improvement.” The test marked Rea’s initial outing with his new crew chief, Oriol Pallares, and served as a prelude to the introduction of Yamaha’s latest development components, set for the second day.

Rea reflected on his first day of testing with two nearly identical bikes, focusing on refining the setup devised by Pallares and the Yamaha engineering team.
“We ended the day with a smile,” Rea shared with WorldSBK.com. “We started with a baseline setup created by Uri [Pallares] and the Yamaha guys. Both bikes were very similar, and from the beginning, I felt one was better. We worked to replicate that feeling on the other bike, identifying some strengths and weaknesses.”

Rea noted progress in chassis adjustments, describing the results as a step in the right direction. However, he cautioned that Jerez’s winter conditions can sometimes produce misleading feedback.
“Compared to others, I think our pace was decent for the first day, but there’s still plenty to improve. We didn’t test many new components yet—that starts on Wednesday,” Rea said.

While Rea focused on steady improvements, teammate Andrea Locatelli spent the day reacquainting himself with the bike after finishing the 2024 season on a high note. Locatelli completed 70 laps, emphasizing familiarity with the bike rather than chasing lap times.
“We aimed to rediscover the good feeling we had here during the final races of 2024,” Locatelli explained. “I’m pretty happy with the progress. Day one was about preparing for a more intensive second day when we’ll try some new elements.”

Locatelli also hinted at his focus for the winter season: improving his ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions during race weekends.
“Getting up to speed immediately is crucial, especially in unpredictable weather like at Assen. This gives us a significant advantage. Step by step, I’m improving my consistency and confidence,” he added.

As Yamaha continues its testing, both Rea and Locatelli aim to use these early sessions to set a strong foundation for the 2025 season. With a mix of technical adjustments and renewed determination, the team hopes to be well-prepared for the challenges ahead.