The winter season is over, the 2022 FIM Supersport World Championship season is about to start in a few days’ time at the Motorland Aragón circuit. Before the season starts on Friday 8 April the Official WorldSBK Supported Test was held on Monday and Tuesday in Aragón, a two-day test in which Dominique Aegerter set the fifth fastest lap and Leonardo Taccini continued his learning process on the Ten Kate Racing Yamaha.

After Ten Kate Racing, Dominique Aegerter and Leonardo Taccini recently completed a two-day test at the Motorland Aragón circuit in the north of Spain – a test characterized by cold and rainy conditions – the Official WorldSBK Supported Test was scheduled on the same circuit for the past two days. During this test, all teams and riders who will participate in the FIM Supersport World Championship this season were present for the first time.

Just like the previous test, the final winter test was very cold in Aragon with temperatures around freezing point in the early morning. The difference this time, however, was that it was dry and there were reasonably good conditions to ride in at the midway point of the day.

On both days of testing, Aegerter and Taccini skipped the first session of the day due to the low track temperature. Despite this they were able to complete the full test programme and finalise the perfect set-up before the season starts next Friday at the same circuit in Aragon.

Aegerter ended the two-day test with a fastest lap time of 1’53.647, a time that put the Swiss rider in fifth place on the combined timesheet. Taccini recorded a fastest lap of 1’55.414 during this final test which put the Italian in twenty-first place.

Dominique Aegerter: “Yes it was cold, so we had to skip the first session of the day. The main thing is that it’s going to get a lot warmer over the next few days, so that looks good for the opening weekend of the season here in Aragon. We managed to ride the fifth fastest lap; our race pace is definitely very good but we need to find a way to get that one fast lap over the next two days. We will study the data from this test and I am sure we will be ready to start the season on Friday.”

Leonardo Taccini: “It were two completely different days of testing here in Aragon this time. The first day I rode my laps with my own riding style, but after this day we came to the conclusion that it would be better to adapt my riding style a little more to the Yamaha which is new for me this season. The second day I focused on this and I have to say that Kervin and the guys were right and I wasn’t using this bike in the right way. I was a bit less aggressive and I also tried a different way of using the rear brake for the first time. I think we managed to make some progress during this last day of testing before the start of the season. My fastest lap time may not be there yet, but we were very consistent and I think we are ready for the start of the season.”

Kervin Bos, Ten Kate Racing team manager: “Testing is over and I am happy that we can start the season this Friday; it is time for action. I think I can say that both Leonardo and Dominique are in good shape. Of course, we haven’t put all our cards on the table in the last two days. We are going to prepare well for the first race weekend in the next two days. I am looking forward to racing again, let the season begin.”

The first round of the 2022 FIM Supersport World Championship will be held at the Motorland Aragón circuit this weekend (8-10 April). Free practice is scheduled for Friday, followed by qualifying and the first race on Saturday and another race on Sunday.