Yamaha Motor Europe’s new pairing of Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli will make their debut aboard the 2016 Yamaha YZF-R1 at the Circuito de Jerez in southern Spain tomorrow in the opening test of the Japanese marque’s return to the World Superbike Championship.

The ‘stealth-black’ Yamaha race machines will feature Pata branding for the first time, with the squad’s additional partners and final ‘Racing Blue’ livery to be revealed in January.

Located on the south-west coast of Spain, approximately 90kms south of Seville, the initial test at the 4,423m Andalusian circuit will focus on the basics – getting both racers comfortable with the new YZF-R1, making initial rider position adjustments and achieving a base setting for the machine in its first appearance under the WSBK regulations. However, the forecast of heavy rain and storms may disrupt plans for the opening day.

Lowes and Guintoli will be on track at Jerez for a two-day test, commencing at 10:00hrs local time on Tuesday 3rd November before the newly-formed team travel to Aragon and then back to Jerez later this month for further evaluation.

Alex Lowes

“I’m really excited but a little apprehensive ahead of the first test tomorrow! I’m excited as it is my first chance to get on the Yamaha YZF-R1, but a little anxious to see what the new bike is like. It’s obviously a really exciting project but the most important thing now is to understand where we are with the bike and learn the basics of riding a new machine – the different engine character which I’ve not been used to – and then from the first test just keep building up. It’s a long time until the first race in Phillip Island at the end of February, so we have enough time to get comfy on the bike and for now it’s just about having fun, learning the bike and getting up to speed with the new team and surroundings so we give ourselves the best opportunity come the start of the season.”

Sylvain Guintoli

“It’s the first test so I think you can understand that I am very excited about it and very interested to discover the new YZF-R1! Obviously after the successful year for the YZF-R1, and a less successful year for me, I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with the bike, start working and see how it works within the World Superbike configurations. It’s also nice for me to be back with some of these boys, it’s been a few years now since I worked with them in 2009, so it will be great to get back together again and get down to business.”

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