HM Plant Honda & O'Halloran complete first Day Of Pre-Season Testing

The HM Plant Honda team got its pre-season testing campaign underway at Calafat in Spain, as reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and Shane 'Shakey' Byrne began their preparations for the forthcoming British Superbike Championship season, whilst Jason O’Halloran also made his debut with the team ahead of his campaign in the National Superstock 1000 class.

The opening day of testing gave the riders the opportunity to get back on track after several months out of the seat and Kiyo ended the first day excited by the his latest specification Fireblade, whilst Shakey was also impressed by the speed and handling despite having made very little changes initially to adapt the Honda. Kiyo and Jason equally completed 71 laps on circuit with Shakey just slightly less with 64. The team is now focusing on its second day to push ahead further and improve pace and set-up.

Team Manager Havier Beltran said: “I can only really echo what the riders have said; it has been a positive first day for us on track and as always the opening day gives the riders a chance to get settled back into riding. Kiyo obviously knows the team and the Fireblade, but for Shakey and Jason it was a chance to get settled in so that we can begin to push forward tomorrow.”