Team Hero EBR were in action on the opening day at the Sepang International Circuit on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur as the 2014 World Superbike Championship returned to Asia for the first in twenty years.
Unlike in many of the previous rounds, the fast-flowing nature of the Malaysian circuit was new for the majority of the field, and the longer 75 minute opening Free Practice session helped both riders, Geoff May and Aaron Yates to get up to speed more quickly.
Despite coping with the hottest conditions of the season so far, Geoff and Aaron (who suffered a small crash in FP2) are relishing at riding in the intense humidity that comes with racing in Malaysia.
Geoff May – “It was a positive first session. The heat wasn’t so bad when riding but when you return the garage in the session to make changes wow it hits you. This afternoon we weren’t able to improve our times which was due to some degree with the increase in track temperature but the bike is working really well here so hopefully we can continue to push and make it into Superpole tomorrow, which is the target.”
Aaron Yates – “It’s a shame we had the small crash because the bike was definitely better this afternoon. I’m ok and the bike wasn’t too badly damaged so we will be ready to push again in the morning, it just took too long to get the bike back to the garage this afternoon.”
With the opening day of on track activity completed, the team will review the data with the aim of improving tomorrow morning when the on track action resumes for the final Free Practice session that will determine the top twenty riders in Tissot-Superpole and the remaining grid positions from 21st onwards.
Ahead of today’s on track sessions, Geoff attended the official media event yesterday which saw him take one of the fastest elevators in the world, scaling the heights of the Petronas Twin Towers in central Kuala Lumpur before sampling a lunch of local Malayan cuisine after the official SBK Q&A session.
