Team Traction Control team-mates Andy Reid and James Rispoli both felt they made big improvements to their Yamaha R6’s during the Pro-Test at Cartagena. The pair will be competing against each other in the Motorpoint British Supersport class, and have been working hard on changes to the chassis and working with some extra horse power too.

Both have the championship title in their sights and new boy Reid wants to do one better than his second place finish in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 series in 2014. For American, Rispoli he has gained more confidence and self belief after already spending a season with Team Owner Keith Flint and his crew.

The biggest changes they have made is to the chassis, but suspension, clutch and electronics were also explored throughout the four day test in Spain. Reid and Rispoli are both happy with what they have achieved and are pleased with their respective lap times too.

“The team is a new experience for me, and I am just figuring out how everyone works. Things have been positive and moving forward in each session, and are consistently fast and been doing times that would put us right at the front, and I am enjoying myself,” said Reid speaking to bikesportnews.com.

“I am feeling comfortable but we have got a bit to do, to dial in the bike to get it to where I want it to be. The biggest change we made was to the chassis. The engine has more horse power than last year – but it is quite manageable. I am trying to get the chassis to feeling what it did last year.”

The boys have a good relationship off track and are friends, having known each other from when Reid was with FFX and attending numerous Yamaha events together. They both respect each other, but know that they will have to battle it out, as well as help each other when the racing season begins in a few weeks time.

“I want to win the championship as I am not here to make the numbers up, and with a good team around me I can’t see that being impossible. I am good friends with James Rispoli - but on track we are rivals and off it we are friends, which is really nice,” said the Northern Irishman.

“The team are laid back and you don’t feel the pressure like you might do with other teams and we are all working towards the same thing. Lap times are nice when they come - but they are not the be all and end all at the test. We have been working more on getting comfortable on the bike and working on where to go with the suspension – and it is all super positive.”

James Rispoli said: “Everything has gone really well here at Cartagena, we have tried an all new suspension with factory Ohlins, and we have been testing clutch settings and electronics, and it has been a great four days. We are close to getting a good feel with the chassis and we are already going quicker on old tyres than we were last year. I had an injury in the off season and hurt my shoulder and now I feel much stronger and I feel 2015 is going to be a good year for us, and I feel this is our year to shine.

“Getting the chassis right is what we have been really working on, and clutch settings too - as we want it to be consistent on every lap. For us it is about four days of testing little things, especially over the last few days. At the end of last year we saw how competitive we can really be, and I am now more confident and it feels like I am coming back to a family, and I want to kick some ass too.

“Andy Reid is a good dude and he is very fast, as team-mates we can have a joke but we understand on track we are both going for it, so we don’t let that get too wrapped up in our heads. In the garage it is all open information, and so it seems like it is going to be a good team for us, as we can push each other on track, like the Smith Triumphs did last year. We want to help each other and be the one-two riders out on track this year, and we will be pushing each other too.”