WSBK Ten Kate Honda rider Rea tests Honda MotoGP bike

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea was invited by HRC to help with development testing of the RC212V MotoGP machine at a three-day test at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, and he came away impressed after the first day. Accompanying HRC test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi (whom he teamed with at the Suzuka 8-Hour), Rea completed 51 laps to help familiarize himself with the differing characteristics of the purpose-built grand prix racebike, despite testing being halted for an hour due to a short rain shower in the typically warm conditions at Sepang. Rea was also not quite at full fitness, still recovering from the wrist injuries suffered at the penultimate WSBK round at Imola back in September; he underwent surgery to repair the fracture as well as ligament damage immediately afterward, but recovery to the scaphoid bone is often notoriously slow due to its location in the wrist.

"Today I had great fun learning a MotoGP bike and the Sepang circuit is impressive,” said an excited Rea. “My body is still not 100% and this is a pity, but I had a very good day with the HRC test team. I spent almost all my career on production derived bikes; I just rode a 125 GP a few years ago. But today I had a good feeling riding the Honda RCV212. The bike feels very powerful, the engine revs higher than my CBR1000R and it is easy to change direction. I’d like to thank HRC and Honda Europe for this opportunity. I am looking forward for the next two days of testing."

Unlike the contracted MotoGP riders who are forbidden from testing until the upcoming February tests at the Sepang circuit, the manufacturers are still allowed to do some development work with test riders whenever possible.