Quattro Kawasaki's Glenn Irwin left the official Bennetts British Superbike test yesterday feeling disappointed with his pace despite making a big electronics step forward.

The Carrickfergus rider ended up seven-tenths off leader Jason O'Halloran on the combined timesheets while his team made plenty of changes to try and find the right setup direction. However, he said postives came out of the cold and windy Northamptonshire day.

"To be honest I was a bit disappointed with my performance today but there were some positives that we can take away and work on ahead of the championship opener in ten days’ time," said Irwin.

“We had a big breakthrough electronically, so it was nice to feel the difference in that area, and we now have a clear direction to go in ahead of the first round. I rode on a setting that worked for Leon, but every rider is different, so we just need to find a setting that works for me.

“It’s not uncommon to be in this position at this stage so it’s not a big worry. Overall, I feel good on the bike; I’m riding well and pushing the limits. We had a good team debrief after today’s test and the guys now know how to get to where we’re going.”