It has been a challenging and difficult early WorldSBK 2019 for Chaz Davies, with lingering muscle problems and a team-mate in Alvaro Bautista that has taken off into a huge championship lead after just four rounds of the championship.

But his results have been improving of late as he makes better friends with the all-new V4R. A test at Imola recently did not hurt but he also stated that it was not a breakthrough event. It is a step at a time for the Welshman.

“Today was positive and I think it has been a while since I ended Friday in the top three,” said Davies after finishing second quickest on Friday at Imola.

“That was a positive step forward and quite honestly I think that momentum has been going the right way after the last races. Here at Imola is a good time to try and change the page a little bit. Having said that, I still feel like we have plenty of room to improve.

I am not 100% happy with the feeling, so I just hope we can turn things around for tomorrow. I really feel I have some good margin out there to improve the lap time. I am just struggling to do it at the minute but if we make the right changes then I do not see why we cannot fight for a win tomorrow.”

When asked what, if any, changes he made in his riding style at the tests, he expanded on his previous comments that it is just not possible to make wholesale changes.

“I don’t care what rider said that they changed their riding style - no rider changes fully their riding style,” said Davies.

“You adapt when you have a different bike underneath you. You can adapt it a bit of this and a bit of that. It is details at this level, a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

"Comfort on the bike more than anything and to be able to ride the way I want to ride. To make the changes that allow me to fully express my riding style, which so far in my career has done me OK.”