Garrett Gerloff expressed frustration over the tough weather conditions that affected the World Superbike (WorldSBK) pre-season tests in Europe this January. Both sessions, held at Jerez and Portimao, faced significant setbacks due to rain and storms, with only brief periods of track time on the second day at Jerez and the first day at Portimao. As a result, riders had very limited opportunities to test new components, focus on ergonomics, and fine-tune wet-weather electronics. Some competitors, including both Bimota riders and all Portuguese Yamaha racers, did not manage to take to the track at all.
Gerloff was among those able to ride only on the first day in Portimao, completing a small number of laps without gaining much useful feedback. He shared his disappointment after the initial day of testing, apologizing to his team and others affected by the uncooperative weather. On the second day, heavy rain and hurricane-force winds rendered the track dangerously wet, with flowing water across the surface, which prevented any riding.
Despite managing 18 laps in Portugal and 20 in Jerez—both in mixed wet and dry conditions—Gerloff felt these runs were more about survival than progress. He warned that many riders might head to the upcoming Australian round with insufficient preparation. However, he did note a positive aspect, observing some improvements with the new Kawasaki ZX-10RR’s aerodynamic package. The redesigned fairing and wing helped give the bike more front-end stability, especially on faster, wind-exposed parts of the track. Still, Gerloff remains cautious, acknowledging he’s far from reaching his typical racing pace and hoping that the aero benefits will become clearer as speeds increase.
Fan Take: The persistent bad weather during these crucial pre-season tests highlights the unpredictable challenges that riders and teams face beyond just competition. For fans, this means the upcoming season could bring unexpected surprises as teams may start races still ironing out their setups, adding an extra layer of excitement and uncertainty to WorldSBK.
