JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Westmoreland has come away from the MCE British Superbike test at Oulton Park in a more positive frame of mind, after what he described as two ‘difficult’ two opening rounds.

The quiet Yorkshireman and his team having been working on finding a setting that will help him feel comfortable on the bike, and ever since a crash at the opening round at Donington Park the rider has yet to get back that good feeling he had on his ZX-10R. He now believes his crew have found a setting that he is happy with during Friday’s official test at the Cheshire circuit, and wants to “hit the ground running” during the race weekend next week.

“The team have been trying to get me more comfortable on the bike because the first two rounds have been a disaster, and we are making progress and we are better now during the test than when we left Brands Hatch. My feeling is getting better every time I go out on the bike – which is important,” said Westmoreland, speaking to bikesportnews.com from the track.

“We were fast at Donington, but I crashed and then we had a few mechanical problems after the crash. My feeling on the bike was good at Brands but I had problems in qualifying which meant I qualified far back on the grid – the first two rounds have been disappointing so we need to push on ahead.

“We are working a lot with the suspension setting, and the bike wasn’t responding too well in the morning session over the bumps – and now it is. But we need to leave the test in a strong position to hit the ground running for Saturday. I like Oulton and it is more of a challenge, but I enjoy riding here.”