From Ravenna to Navarra by car, a 17-hour trip each way. Federico Caricasulo drove to Spain to meet with team GMT94, the squad with which he will compete in this year’s Supersport championship. After a (half) season on a 1000 machine, the young Italian returns to the 600 series.

He’s back on the Yamaha R6, a bike he’s done very well with in the past. The French team, headed up Christophe Guyot, has carried out an initial test at what is a new track on the 2021 SBK calendar: “I liked it and had fun - comments Caricasulo – the track is great, perhaps a little small, but varied. The first two sectors are very technical and fast, scarily so. Then there’s quite a slow mixed section that is also technical and challenging".

For those who haven’t ridden there, they can look forward to the experience, Federico defining Navarra as: "Like a combination of classic racetrack and small karting track. The asphalt might need re-doing, because it’s a bit uneven, and there are potholes but, overall, I really liked it and it was great to ride the race bike”.

A productive GMT94 test for Carica, who will share the garage with Cluzel

Having travelled all the way to Navarra to collect some useful references and parameters ahead of the August round, Federico is pleased with the work completed with team GMT94: “The test went well - he confirms - and the team and I worked very hard, in fact, I can see that we’ve taken some real steps forward. We’ve grown since day one and hope to continue to do so”.

Team-mate Jules Cluzel was also on track, his R6 bearing the number 16, while Federico will ride with number 94, matching the French team’s own number. Ana Carrasco was also in action with the Ninja 400, as was Johan Gimbert, also on a Kawasaki.

Translated by Heather Watson

SBK, Bayliss the fearless spirit: cut my finger off, I have to race!