'There was plenty learned. My head hurts!' - Vickers completes his first World Superbike test

Today at 06:26 AM

Ryan Vickers got his first taste of World Superbike machinery at the two-day Jerez World Superbike test.

After completing the 2024 British Superbike season with the OMG Racing UK Team Vickers will switch to World Superbikes in 2025. The British rider will ride a Ducati Panigale V4 R in WorldSBK after riding a Yamaha R1 over the last two seasons in BSB.

Vickers compared his BSB bike to the new WorldSBK machine: "It is very different. I am not riding it in the same spec.

"The Ducati? You've got to get the bike out of the corner, get it upright, use the power. It is super fast. But, if you're on the edge of the tyre, the electronics won't let you go anywhere.

"The bike has great mid-corner speed. I thought I'd have to be more stop-start because the Yamaha is renowned for being really good mid-corner. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the bike felt mid-corner, it's the best I've ever felt."

"It's actually using the electronics which is the hard thing."

Vickers was seventh-fastest on Day One of the test, after making his debut on a WorldSBK bike which he described as "awesome".

He added: "It's always difficult getting on a new bike at a pretty new track, I hadn't been here for four years. It was about familiarising myself, and electronics. The Motocorsa team have made me feel welcome.

"Step by step we learned a lot about the bike and the way I've got to ride it. I'm pretty sure that I understood it well. We learned a lot. I am really happy, the Ducati is an amazing bike, it's super fast. It was a great experience."

The additional electronics on a WorldSBK bike compared to what he's become used to in BSB will be a major change.

Vickers explained: "It's actually using the electronics which is the hard thing. I am used to riding below spin to save the high-side. Learning to ride into the electronics is a difficult thing.

"But I am getting there. The electronics system works great and it's consistent. I am able to go out each time and get closer to where I need to be. There's loads more to come. When you change traction control, what does it do? All of these things. There was plenty learned. My head hurts!"

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