Successful shakedown for Relentless

From Team Suzuki

In preparation for the forthcoming International North West 200 on May 17, the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team has completed a successful two-day test at Kirkistown, County Down with riders Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald.

The first of the two days offered wall to wall sunshine with both riders completing over 70 laps of the circuit on their GSX-R Suzukis.

British championship riders Michael Laverty and Ian Lowry joined their road racing teammates on the latter part of day one, and also on day two, when all four riders made the best of the changeable conditions. It was very much a team building exercise, with Anstey offering his expertise to British Supersport rider Lowry on wet weather set-up, something the Kiwi is renowned for.

The main purpose of the test was to implement a final Pirelli tire shakedown before the North West 200, with both Anstey and Donald equalling their best ever times around Kirkistown on the full range of GSX-R machinery.

Laverty and Lowry also got the opportunity to test updated parts for their respective GSX-Rs, and the wet weather on day two gave both riders additional set-up time prior to the Oulton Park BSB round on Bank Holiday Monday.

"We have been coming to Kirkistown for a pre North West 200 shakedown since 2001, and like previous years, it has again worked very well for us," said team principal Philip Neill. "We have good data for this circuit and I'm happy to report that all our bikes are working well for the North Coast event on May 17. Bruce and Cameron have made the most of the two-day test getting the opportunity to ride in both sunshine and wet conditions."