Andotrans Team Torrentó starts the new ESBK season with good sensations
Andotrans Team Torrentó starts the new ESBK season with good sensations
The Spanish Superbike Championship opened its 2023 season at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto. The first of the year’s seven rounds came with many question marks.
Andotrans Team Torrentó arrived in Jerez with the Superbike of Óscar Gutiérrez in the premier class and the Australian Harry Khouri in the Supersport Next Generation class. This year the riders will be riding on Dunlop tyres, and this increased the concentration in the first free practice sessions to get to know the performance of the tyres. Both riders showed good pace in the free practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, and both riders were ready to go into Saturday with a chance at the front of the field.
Oscar crashed in Saturday’s timed practice, but this did not prevent him from finishing second on the grid, in P5. Harry, on the other hand, was making his debut in the category and, after setting a good pace, finished in a deserving P15. Hours later, in the first Superbike race, with the temperature in the asphalt reaching over 40ºC, Gutiérrez started well but had a scare in the first corners of the track and finished a deserved 5th. Then it was Harry’s turn on the Supersport Next Generation and after a good start he managed to get into the group at the pace of the front runners, but unfortunately four laps from the end a mechanical problem forced the Australian to retire in his first race of the championship.
During the warm-up on Sunday, the sensations improved and the pace was promising to fight for the front positions. In the second race of the round, Óscar Gutiérrez lost a few positions at the start, but with a good pace and good race management he managed to finish on the third step of the podium. Harry Khouri, on the other hand, was caught in the middle of the pack after the start. However, he managed to make up ground and ended up in an excellent sixteenth position.
The Andotrans Team Torrentó concludes a good first test with good results and a lot of learning with the new tyres. The next ESBK race will take place at Circuito Motorland Aragón in Alcañiz, on the weekend of 15th and 16th April.
FERRAN TORRENTÓ
Team Manager
“It was a very successful weekend for us. This year was our debut with Dunlop and we had to get to know the development of these tyres. The feeling is good and that gives us confidence for the championship.”
“In Superbike with Oscar we achieved our goal of fighting for podium positions and having one of the best pace. In Supersport Next Generation with rookie Harry we are very happy and proud of his work throughout the weekend. We regretted a technical problem in the first race that prevented him from finishing, but on Sunday he showed a great pace that will pay dividends for us throughout the season. We are already looking forward to getting back on track at Motorland Aragón.”
SUNDAY’S RACE LIVE
